impotent
nounEtymology From Old French impotent, from Latin impotēns, from in- (expresses negation) + potēns (“powerful”).
1
A man who has erectile dysfunction
2
An impotent or powerless person
impotent
adj/ˈɪm.pə.tənt/ · /ˈɪm.pə.tɪnt/
Etymology From Old French impotent, from Latin impotēns, from in- (expresses negation) + potēns (“powerful”).
1
Lacking physical strength or vigor; weak
2
Lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless
- Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent1984, Freeman J. Dyson, Weapons and Hope:
3
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:
4
Of a male Sterile
5
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:
- Antonyms
- potent
- Derived terms
- impotently, impotentness, nonimpotent, self-impotent
- Related terms
- impotence