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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pu·is·sant

Audio Help [pyoo-uh-suh

nt, pyoo-is-uh

nt, pwis-uh

nt] Pronunciation Key

–adjective Literary.

powerful; mighty; potent.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME < MF < VL *possent- (s. of *posséns), for L potent- (s. of poténs), prp. of posse to be able, have power; see potent, -ant

]

—Related forms

pu·is·sant·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
puissant

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

puis·sance Audio Help (pwĭs'əns, pyōō'ĭ-səns, pyōō-ĭs'əns) Pronunciation Key
n. Power; might.

[Middle English, from Old French, from poissant, powerful, present participle of pooir, to be able; see power.]

puis'sant adj., puis'sant·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
puissant

c.1450, from M.Fr. puissant "being powerful," earlier poissant, from stem of poeir "to be able" (see power).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

puissant
adjective
powerful

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Puissant

Im*pu"is*sant\, a. [F., fr. pref. im- not + puissant. See Puissant.] Weak; impotent; feeble.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Puissant

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Puissant

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Puissant

Pu"is*sant\, a. [F., originally, a p. pr. formed fr. L. posse to be able: cf. L. potens powerful. See Potent.] Powerful; strong; mighty; forcible; as, a puissant prince or empire. " Puissant deeds." --Milton.

Of puissant nations which the world possessed. --Spenser.

And worldlings in it are less merciful, And more puissant. --Mrs. Browning.

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