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Definition of potent - 8 dictionary results
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po⋅tent

1  [poht-nt]
Use potent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. powerful; mighty: a potent fighting force.
2. cogent; persuasive: Several potent arguments were in his favor.
3. producing powerful physical or chemical effects: a potent drug.
4. having or exercising great power or influence: a potent factor in the economy.
5. (of a male) capable of sexual intercourse.
Origin:
1490–1500; < L potent- (s. of potēns), prp. of posse to be able, have power; see -ent

Related forms:
po⋅tent⋅ly, adverb
po⋅tent⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. strong, puissant. See powerful. 4. influential.

Antonyms:
1. weak. 4. ineffectual.
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po⋅tent

2  [poht-nt] Heraldry.
–noun
1. a fur having a pattern of T-shaped forms, placed in alternate directions and having alternating tinctures, one metal and one color, so that all forms of one tincture face the same way and are between, above, and below forms of the other tincture facing the other way.
2. a T-shaped form used in potent or counterpotent.
–adjective
3. (of a cross) having a crosspiece at the extremity of each arm: a cross potent.
Origin:
1325–75; ME potente crutch, var. of potence < F crutch, support < ML potentia, L: power, potency
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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po·tent   (pōt'nt)   
adj.  
  1. Possessing inner or physical strength; powerful.
    1. Exerting or capable of exerting strong physiological or chemical effects: potent liquor; a potent toxin.
    2. Exerting or capable of exerting strong influence; cogent: potent arguments.
  3. Having great control or authority: "The police were potent only so long as they were feared" (Thomas Burke).
  4. Able to perform sexual intercourse. Used of a male.

[Middle English, from Latin potēns, potent-, present participle of posse, to be able; see poti- in Indo-European roots.]
po'tent·ly adv., po'tent·ness n.
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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Potent

Po"tent\, 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.]

1. Producing great physical effects; forcible; powerful' efficacious; as, a potent medicine. "Harsh and potent injuries." --Shak.

Moses once more his potent rod extends. --Milton.

2. Having great authority, control, or dominion; puissant; mighty; influential; as, a potent prince. "A potent dukedom." --Shak.

Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors. --Shak.

3. Powerful, in an intellectual or moral sense; having great influence; as, potent interest; a potent argument.

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

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

Potent

Po"tent\, n. 1. A prince; a potentate. [Obs.] --Shak.

2. [See Potence.] A staff or crutch. [Obs.]

3. (Her.) 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.

Counter potent (Her.), a fur differing from potent in the arrangement of the patches.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : potent
Spanish: potente,
German: stark,
Japanese: 強力な
More Translations »

potent 
c.1500, from L. potentem (nom. potens) "powerful," prp. of *potere "be powerful," from potis "powerful, able, capable" (cognate with Skt. patih "master, husband," Gk. posis, Lith. patis "husband"). Meaning "having sexual power" is first recorded 1899. Potency is attested from 1539, from L. potentia "power," from potentem "potent."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: po·tent
Pronunciation: 'pOt-&nt
Function: adjective
1 : having force or power
2 : chemicallyor medicinally effective potent vaccine>
3 : able to copulate —usually used of the male —po·tent·ly adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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potent po·tent (pōt'nt)
adj.

  1. Exerting or capable of exerting strong physiological or chemical effects.
  2. Able to perform sexual intercourse. Used of a male.

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