Impotent
[im-puh-tuh nt] /ˈɪm pə tənt/
adjective
1.
not potent; lacking power or ability.
2.
utterly unable (to do something).
3.
without force or effectiveness.
4.
lacking bodily strength or physically helpless.
5.
(of a male) unable to attain or sustain a penile erection.
6.
(especially of a male) sterile.
7.
Obsolete. without restraint.
noun
8.
an impotent person:
therapy for sexual impotents.
/ˈɪmpətənt/
adjective
1.
(when postpositive, often takes an infinitive) lacking sufficient strength; powerless
2.
(esp of males) unable to perform sexual intercourse See erectile impotence
3.
(obsolete) lacking self-control; unrestrained
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.
impotent im·po·tent (ĭm’pə-tənt)
adj.
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