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Impotent

 - 5 dictionary results

im⋅po⋅tent

[im-puh-tuhnt]
–adjective
1. not potent; lacking power or ability.
2. utterly unable (to do something).
3. without force or effectiveness.
4. lacking bodily strength or physically helpless.
5. (of a male) unable to attain or sustain a penile erection.
6. (esp. of a male) sterile.
7. Obsolete. without restraint.
–noun
8. an impotent person: therapy for sexual impotents.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME < L impotent- (s. of impotēns) without power over oneself or others. See im- 2 , potent 1


im⋅po⋅tent⋅ly, adverb


1, 2. powerless, helpless. 3. ineffectual, ineffective, feeble, weak.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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im·po·tent   (ĭm'pə-tənt)   
adj.  
  1. Lacking physical strength or vigor; weak.

  2. Lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless: "Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent" (Freeman J. Dyson).

    1. Incapable of sexual intercourse, often because of an inability to achieve or sustain an erection.

    2. Sterile. Used of males.

  3. Obsolete Lacking self-restraint.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin impotēns, impotent- : in-, not; see in-1 + potēns, potent; see potent.]
im'po·tent·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

impotent 
1390, "physically weak," from O.Fr. impotent "powerless," from L. imponentem (nom. impotens) "lacking control, powerless," from in- "not" + ponentem (nom. potens) "potent." Meaning "having no power to accomplish anything" is from 1444; that of "completely lacking in sexual power" is from 1594 (implied in impotency).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: im·po·tent
Pronunciation: 'im-p&t-&nt
Function: adjective
1 : not potent impotent vaccine>
2 : unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of inability to have and maintain an erection; broadly : STERILE —usually used of males
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

impotent im·po·tent (ĭm'pə-tənt)
adj.

  1. Incapable of sexual intercourse, often because of an inability to achieve or sustain an erection.

  2. Sterile. Used of males.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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