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Added 30 September 2026

potent

/ˈpəʊt(ə)nt/ adjective

In Latin: potens Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about potent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Powerful; possessing power; effective. Possessing authority or influence; persuasive, convincing.
a potent argument
Possessing authority or influence; persuasive, convincing.
a potent argument
Possessing strong physical or chemical properties.
a potent drink; a potent solvent; a potent medicine

noun

A prince; a potentate.
A staff or crutch.
A heraldic fur formed by a regular tessellation of blue and white T shapes.

Origin

From Middle English potent, borrowed from Latin potens, potentis (“powerful, strong, potent”), present participle of posse (“to be able”), from potis (“able, powerful, originally a lord, master”).

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

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