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Added 9 October 2026

impotent

/ˈɪm.pə.tənt/ adjective

Latin root: impotēns Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about impotent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Lacking power or ability.
Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent
(of a male) unable to copulate.

Origin

From Old French impotent, from Latin impotēns, from in- (expresses negation) + potēns (“powerful”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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