a. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moses once more his potent rod extends. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having great authority, control, or dominion; puissant; mighty; influential; as, a potent prince. “A potent dukedom.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Powerful, in an intellectual or moral sense; having great influence; as, potent interest; a potent argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cross potent. (Her.) See Illust. (7) of Cross. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Powerful; mighty; puissant; strong; able; efficient; forcible; efficacious; cogent; influential. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A prince; a potentate. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ See Potence. ] A staff or crutch. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Counter potent (Her.), a fur differing from potent in the arrangement of the patches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Potentate. ] Sovereignty. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. potentatus, fr. potentare to exercise power: cf. F. potentat. See Potent, a. ] One who is potent; one who possesses great power or sway; a prince, sovereign, or monarch. [ 1913 Webster ]

The blessed and only potentate. 1 Tim. vi. 15. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cherub and seraph, potentates and thrones. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Anything that may be possible; a possibility; potentially. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces acting in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates which determine the position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with respect to the coordinates are equal to the components of the force at the point considered; -- also called potential function, or force function. It is called also Newtonian potential when the force is directed to a fixed center and is inversely as the square of the distance from the center. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Elec.) The energy of an electrical charge measured by its power to do work; hence, the degree of electrification as referred to some standard, as that of the earth; electro-motive force. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. potentiel. See Potency. ] 1. Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious; influential. [ Obs. ] “And hath in his effect a voice potential.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality. “A potential hero.” Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Potential existence means merely that the thing may be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Potential cautery. See under Cautery. --
Potential energy. (Mech.) See the Note under Energy. --
Potential mood, or
Potential mode (Gram.), that form of the verb which is used to express possibility, liberty, power, will, obligation, or necessity, by the use of may, can, must, might, could, would, or should; as, I may go; he can write. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being potential; possibility, not actuality; inherent capability or disposition, not actually exhibited. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. With power; potently. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In a potential manner; possibly, not positively. [ 1913 Webster ]

The duration of human souls is only potentially infinite. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Potentiated p. pr. & vb. n. Potentiating. ] To render active or potent. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Potential + -meter. ] (Elec.) An instrument for measuring or comparing electrial potentials or electro-motive forces. [ 1913 Webster ]