Impotently
[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.
Read Also:
- 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. […]
- Impound
[verb im-pound; noun im-pound] /verb ɪmˈpaʊnd; noun ˈɪm paʊnd/ verb (used with object) 1. to shut up in a or other enclosure, as a stray animal. 2. to confine within an enclosure or within limits: water impounded in a reservoir. 3. to seize and retain in custody of the law, as a document for evidence. […]
- Impounding
[verb im-pound; noun im-pound] /verb ɪmˈpaʊnd; noun ˈɪm paʊnd/ verb (used with object) 1. to shut up in a or other enclosure, as a stray animal. 2. to confine within an enclosure or within limits: water impounded in a reservoir. 3. to seize and retain in custody of the law, as a document for evidence. […]
- Impoundment
[im-pound-muh nt] /ɪmˈpaʊnd mənt/ noun 1. a body of water confined within an enclosure, as a reservoir. 2. the act of : the impoundment of alien property. 3. the condition of being . n. 1660s; see impound + -ment.
- Impoverish
[im-pov-er-ish, -pov-rish] /ɪmˈpɒv ər ɪʃ, -ˈpɒv rɪʃ/ verb (used with object) 1. to reduce to poverty: a country impoverished by war. 2. to make poor in quality, productiveness, etc.; exhaust the strength or richness of: Bad farming practices impoverished the soil. /ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃ/ verb (transitive) 1. to make poor or diminish the quality of: to impoverish […]