Hypertext Webster Gateway: "impotent"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Impotent \Im"po*tent\, n.
One who is imoitent. [R.] --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Impotent \Im"po*tent\, a. [F. impotent, L. impotens, -entis;
pref. im- not + potens potent, powerful. See {Potent}.]
1. Not potent; wanting power, strength. or vigor. whether
physical, intellectual, or moral; deficient in capacity;
destitute of force; weak; feeble; infirm.
There sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent inhis
feet. --Acts xiv. 8.
O most lame and impotent conclusion! --Shak.
Not slow to hear, Nor impotent to save. --Addison.
2. Wanting the power of self-restraint; incontrolled;
ungovernable; violent.
Impotent of tongue, her silence broke. --Dryden.
3. (Med.) Wanting the power of procreation; unable to
copulate; also, sometimes, sterile; barren.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
impotent
adj 1: lacking power or ability; "Technology without morality is
barbarous; morality without technology is impotent"-
Freeman J.Dyson; "felt impotent rage" [ant: {potent}]
2: (of a male) unable to copulate [ant: {potent}]
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