the power or right to give orders or make decisions; "he has the authority to issue warrants"; "deputies are given authorization to make arrests"; "a place of potency in the state" [syn: authority]
2.
capacity to produce strong physiological or chemical effects; "the toxin's potency"; "the strength of the drinks"
3.
the inherent capacity for coming into being [syn: potential]
4.
the state of being potent; a male's capacity to have sexual intercourse [ant: impotence]
Main Entry: po·ten·cy Pronunciation: 'pOt-&n-sE Function: noun Inflected Form: plural-cies : the quality or
state of being potent: as a: chemical or medicinal strength or efficacy <a drug's potency> b: the ability to copulate —usually used of the male
c: initial inherent capacity for development of a particular kind <cells with a potency for eye formation>
Po"ten*cy\, n. [L. potentia, from potens, -entis, potent. See Potent, and cf. Potance, Potence, Puissance.] The quality or state of being potent; physical or moral power; inherent strength; energy; ability to effect a purpose; capability; efficacy; influence. "Drugs of potency." --Hawthorne. A place of potency and away o' the state. --Shak.
Po*ten"tial\, a. [Cf. F. potentiel. See Potency.]1. Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious; influential. [Obs.] "And hath in his effect a voice potential." --Shak. 2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality. "A potential hero." --Carlyle. Potential existence means merely that the thing may be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is. --Sir W. Hamilton. Potential cautery. See under Cautery. Potential energy. (Mech.) See the Note under Energy. Potential mood, or mode (Gram.), that form of the verb which is used to express possibility, liberty, power, will, obligation, or necessity, by the use of may, can, must, might, could, would, or should; as, I may go; he can write.
Pu"is*sance\, n. [F., fr. puissant. See Puissant, and cf. Potency, Potance, Potence.] Power; strength; might; force; potency. " Youths of puissance." --Tennyson. The power and puissance of the king. --Shak. Note: In Spenser, Shakespeare, and Milton, puissance and puissant are usually dissyllables.
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