impotent en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Old French impotent, from Latin impotēns, from in- (expresses negation) + potēns (“powerful”).
Meanings
- Lacking physical strength or vigor; weak
-
Lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless
Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent
1984, Freeman J. Dyson, Weapons and Hope:
-
Incapable of sexual intercourse, often because of an inability to achieve or sustain an erection, having impotentia coeundi.
A person smeared with the excrement of a mouse was rendered impotent, according to Pliny the Elder.
1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 158:
- (of a male) Sterile
-
(obsolete) Lacking self-restraint
Then, impotent of tongue (her ſilence broke) / Thus turbulent in rattling tone ſhe ſpoke.
a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The First Book of Homer’s Ilias”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 444:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| most impotent | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more impotent | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
Deriveds
self-impotent · nonimpotent · impotently · impotentness
Relateds
Synonyms
feeble · helpless · puny · incontinent · weak · powerless
Translations (48)
hi नामर्द (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · bcl bawas (incapable of sexual intercourse) · es impotente (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · ru беспо́мощный (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · bg слаб (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · cmn 不行 (incapable of sexual intercourse) · ru бесси́льный (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · ca impotent (incapable of sexual intercourse) · ru бесси́льный (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · hi नामर्द (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · uk імпоте́нтний (incapable of sexual intercourse) · ru сла́бый (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · uk безси́льний (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · eo senpova (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · hi नपुंसक (sterile) · nl impotent (incapable of sexual intercourse) · es impotente (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · it impotente (incapable of sexual intercourse) · ca impotent (sterile) · it impotente (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · uk безси́лий (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · cmn 不舉 /不举 (incapable of sexual intercourse) · sv impotent (incapable of sexual intercourse) · bg безпомощен (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · hi नामर्द (sterile) · hi नपुंसक (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · bg импотентен (incapable of sexual intercourse) · uk безси́льний (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · hi नपुंसक (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · it debole (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · fr impuissant (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · tl limawon (incapable of sexual intercourse) · ru страда́ющий импотенцией (incapable of sexual intercourse) · uk безси́лий (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · ru стери́льный (sterile) · hi नामर्द (incapable of sexual intercourse) · ca impotent (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · eo impotenta (incapable of sexual intercourse) · eo senpova (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · de impotent (incapable of sexual intercourse) · cs impotentní (incapable of sexual intercourse) · grc ἄστυτος (incapable of sexual intercourse) · bg импотентен (sterile) · hi नपुंसक (incapable of sexual intercourse) · bg безсилен (lacking physical strength or vigor; weak) · ru сла́бый (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · ca impotent (lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless) · ru импоте́нтный (incapable of sexual intercourse)