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Definition of puissant - 4 dictionary results

pu⋅is⋅sant

  [pyoo-uh-suhnt, pyoo-is-uhnt, pwis-uhnt]
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–adjective Literary.
powerful; mighty; potent.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < MF < VL *possent- (s. of *possēns), for L potent- (s. of potēns), prp. of posse to be able, have power; see potent, -ant

Related forms:
pu⋅is⋅sant⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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puis·sance   (pwĭs'əns, pyōō'ĭ-səns, pyōō-ĭs'əns)   
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.
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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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.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : puissant
Spanish: poderoso, potente, enorme,
German: mächtig,
Japanese: 強力な
More Translations »

puissant 
c.1450, from M.Fr. puissant "being powerful," earlier poissant, from stem of poeir "to be able" (see power).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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