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impotent - 7 dictionary results
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im⋅po⋅tent

  [im-puh-tuhnt]
Use impotent in a Sentence
–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

Related forms:
im⋅po⋅tent⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1, 2. powerless, helpless. 3. ineffectual, ineffective, feeble, weak.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To impotent
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.
  4. 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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Impotent

Im"po*tent\, a. [F. impotent, L. impotens, -entis; pref. im- not + potens potent, powerful. See Potent.]

1. Not potent; wanting power, strength. or vigor. whether physical, intellectual, or moral; deficient in capacity; destitute of force; weak; feeble; infirm.

There sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent inhis feet. --Acts xiv. 8.

O most lame and impotent conclusion! --Shak.

Not slow to hear, Nor impotent to save. --Addison.

2. Wanting the power of self-restraint; incontrolled; ungovernable; violent.

Impotent of tongue, her silence broke. --Dryden.

3. (Med.) Wanting the power of procreation; unable to copulate; also, sometimes, sterile; barren.

Impotent

Im"po*tent\, n. One who is imoitent. [R.] --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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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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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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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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