potent

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: po=tent

CIDE DICTIONARY

potent, a. [L. potens, -entis, p. pr. of posse to be able, to have power, fr. potis able, capable (akin to Skr. pati master, lord) + esse to be. See Host a landlord, Am, and cf. Despot, Podesta, Possible, Power, Puissant.].

•  Producing great physical effects; forcible; powerful' efficacious; as, a potent medicine.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "Moses once more his potent rod extends."  [1913 Webster]
•  Having great authority, control, or dominion; puissant; mighty; influential; as, a potent prince.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors."  [1913 Webster]
•  Powerful, in an intellectual or moral sense; having great influence; as, potent interest; a potent argument.  [1913 Webster]

Cross potent. (Her.) See Illust. (7) of Cross.

Syn. -- Powerful; mighty; puissant; strong; able; efficient; forcible; efficacious; cogent; influential.

potent, n. 

•  A prince; a potentate.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  A staff or crutch.  [1913 Webster]
•  One of the furs; a surface composed of patches which are supposed to represent crutch heads; they are always alternately argent and azure, unless otherwise specially mentioned.  [1913 Webster]

Counter potent (Her.), a fur differing from potent in the arrangement of the patches.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

potent, adj.
1 powerful; strong.
2 (of a reason) cogent; forceful.
3 (of a male) capable of sexual erection or orgasm.
4 literary mighty.

Derivative

potence n. potency n. potently adv.

potent, adj. & n. Heraldry
--adj.
1 with a crutch-head shape.
2 (of a fur) formed by a series of such shapes.
--n. this fur.

Etymology

ME f. OF potence crutch f. L potentia power (as POTENT(1))

THESAURUS

potent

absolute, amorous, armipotent, ascendant, authoritarian, authoritative, authorized, autocratic, beefy, bouncing, broad-shouldered, carnal, charismatic, charming, clothed with authority, cogent, commanding, compelling, competent, concentrated, consequential, considerable, controlling, convincing, dominant, doughty, duly constituted, dynamic, effective, effectual, efficacious, eminent, empowered, enchanting, energetic, erogenic, erogenous, erotic, erotogenic, estimable, ex officio, fleshly, forceful, forcible, forcy, formidable, full-blooded, full-bodied, full-strength, gamic, governing, great, gutsy, gutty, hairychested, hale, hard, hard as nails, hardy, he-mannish, hearty, hefty, hegemonic, hegemonistic, heterosexual, high-potency, high-powered, high-pressure, high-tension, husky, imperative, important, impressive, in force, in power, influential, iron-hard, irresistible, leading, libidinal, lusty, macho, magnetic, mighty, mighty in battle, momentous, monocratic, nervy, nuptial, obstinate, official, operative, oversexed, personable, persuasive, powerful, preeminent, prepotent, prestigious, procreative, prominent, puissant, ranking, red-blooded, reputable, robust, robustious, rugged, ruling, senior, sensual, sex, sexed, sexlike, sexual, sexy, sound, stalwart, steely, stout, straight, strapping, striking, strong, strong as brandy, strong as strong, strong-willed, sturdy, suasive, substantial, superior, supreme, telling, totalitarian, ultramasculine, undersexed, valid, venereal, vigorous, virile, viripotent, vital, voluptuous, weighty, winning

ROGET THESAURUS

potent

Strength

N strength, power, energy, vigor, force, main force, physical force, brute force, spring, elasticity, tone, tension, tonicity, stoutness, lustihood, stamina, nerve, muscle, sinew, thews and sinews, physique, pith, pithiness, virtility, vitality, athletics, athleticism, gymnastics, feats of strength, adamant, steel, iron, oak, heart of oak, iron grip, grit, bone, athlete, gymnast, acrobat, superman, Atlas, Hercules, Antaeus, Samson, Cyclops, Goliath, tower of strength, giant refreshed, strengthening, invigoration, refreshment, refocillation, dynamics, statics, strong, mighty, vigorous, forcible, hard, adamantine, stout, robust, sturdy, hardy, powerful, potent, puissant, valid, resistless, irresistible, invincible, proof against, impregnable, unconquerable, indomitable, dominating, inextinguishable, unquenchable, incontestable, more than a match for, overpowering, overwhelming, all powerful, all sufficient, sovereign, able-bodied, athletic, Herculean, Cyclopean, Atlantean, muscular, brawny, wiry, well-knit, broad-shouldered, sinewy, strapping, stalwart, gigantic, manly, man-like, manful, masculine, male, virile, unweakened, unallayed, unwithered, unshaken, unworn, unexhausted, in full force, in full swing, in the plenitude of power, stubborn, thick-ribbed, made of iron, deep-rooted, strong as a lion, strong as a horse, strong as an ox, strong as brandy, sound as a roach, in fine feather, in high feather, built like a brick shithouse, like a giant refreshed, strongly, by force, by main force, our withers are unwrung, Blut und Eisen, coelitus mihi vires, du fort au diable, en habiles gens, ex vi termini, flecti non frangi, he that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves an, inflexible in faith invincible in arms.

Physical Energy

N energy, physical energy, force, power, keenness, intensity, vigor, strength, elasticity, go, high pressure, fire, rush, acrimony, acritude, causiticity, virulence, poignancy, harshness, severity, edge, point, pungency, cantharides, seasoning, activity, agitation, effervescence, ferment, fermentation, ebullition, splutter, perturbation, stir, bustle, voluntary energy, quicksilver, resolution, exertion, excitation, strong, energetic, forcible, active, intense, deep-dyed, severe, keen, vivid, sharp, acute, incisive, trenchant, brisk, rousing, irritation, poignant, virulent, caustic, corrosive, mordant, harsh, stringent, double-edged, double-shotted, double- distilled, drastic, escharotic, racy, potent, radioactive, strongly, fortiter in re, with telling effect, the steam is up, vires acquirit eundo, the race by vigor not by vaunts is won.