In 1511, leaders in Mecca believed coffee stimulated radical thinking and outlawed the drink. In 1524, the leaders overturned that order, and people could drink coffee again.
POTENT
potent, strong, stiff
(adjective) having a strong physiological or chemical effect; âa potent toxinâ; âpotent liquorâ; âa potent cup of teaâ; âa stiff drinkâ
potent, virile
(adjective) (of a male) capable of copulation
potent, strong
(adjective) having or wielding force or authority; âproviding the ground soldier with increasingly potent weaponsâ
potent, powerful
(adjective) having great influence
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
potent (comparative more potent, superlative most potent)
Possessing strength.
Powerfully effective.
Having a sharp or offensive taste.
(of a male) Able to procreate.
Very powerful or effective.
Noun
potent (plural potents)
(tincture) A heraldic fur formed by a regular tessellation of blue and white T shapes.
(obsolete) A prince; a potentate.
(obsolete) A staff or crutch.
Antonyms
• impotent
• (heraldry) counterpotent
Anagrams
• nettop, top ten
Source: Wiktionary
Po"tent, a. Etym: [L. potens, -entis, p. pr. of posse to be able, to have power, fr. potis able, capable (akin to Skr. pati master, lord) + esse to be. See Host a landlord, Am, and cf. Despot, Podesta, Possible, Power, Puissant.]
1. Producing great physical effects; forcible; powerful' efficacious; as, a potent medicine. "Harsh and potent injuries." Shak. Moses once more his potent rod extends. Milton.
2. Having great authority, control, or dominion; puissant; mighty; influential; as, a potent prince. "A potent dukedom." Shak. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors. Shak.
3. Powerful, in an intellectual or moral sense; having great influence; as, potent interest; a potent argument. Cross potent. (Her.) See Illust. (7) of Cross.
Syn.
– Powerful; mighty; puissant; strong; able; efficient; forcible; efficacious; cogent; influential.
Po"tent, n.
1. A prince; a potentate. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Etym: [See Potence.]
Definition: A staff or crutch. [Obs.]
3. (Her.)
Definition: One of the furs; a surface composed of patches which are supposed to represent crutch heads; they are always alternately argent and azure, unless otherwise specially mentioned. Counter potent (Her.), a fur differing from potent in the arrangement of the patches.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
29 March 2025
THOUGHTLESS
(adjective) without care or thought for others; âthe thoughtless saying of a great princess on being informed that the people had no bread; âLet them eat cakeââ
Coffee Trivia
