impotent
pronunciation
How to pronounce impotent in British English:
UK [ˈɪmpətənt]
How to pronounce impotent in American English:
US [ˈɪmpətənt]
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- Adjective:
- lacking power or ability
- (of a male) unable to copulate
Word Origin
- impotent (adj.)
- late 14c., "physically weak, enfeebled, crippled," from Old French impotent "powerless, weak, incapable," from Latin imponentem (nominative impotens) "lacking control, powerless," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + ponentem (nominative potens) "potent" (see potent). Meaning "having no power to accomplish anything" is from mid-15c.; that of "completely lacking in sexual power" (of males) is from mid-15c. Middle English also had a native term for this: Cunt-beaten (mid-15c.). The figurative sense in Latin was "without self-control, headstrong, violent." Related: Impotently.
Antonym
Example
- 1. Only then will the fed really start to feel impotent .
- 2. God is either impotent , evil , or imaginary .
- 3. Citizens are thus left feeling impotent .
- 4. This is necessary when nominal interest rates get very low , as they are now , because fed policy becomes impotent .
- 5. It also renders conventional monetary policy impotent , as the interest rate that prevents too much saving is below zero .