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Definition

adjective

(1) Powerful; mighty; possessing strength; having control, influence or dominion.

(2) Effective; efficacious, as in a potent medicine.

(3) (Of a male) able to procreate or copulate.

Supplement

Word origin: Latin potens, -entis, p. Pr. Of posse to be able, to have power, fr. Potis able, capable.
Related form: potency (noun)

Synonyms:

• powerful
• strong
• efficient
• efficacious

Compare: impotent.
See also: potency.

Related terms:

• totipotent
• pluripotent
• multipotent
• unipotent