potence
[
poht
-ns]
/ˈpoʊt ns/
noun
1.
potency
.
Origin
1375-1425;
late Middle English
<
Old French
<
Latin
potentia
potency
British Dictionary definitions for
potence
potency
/
ˈpəʊt
ə
nsɪ
/
noun
(
pl
)
-tencies,
-tences
1.
the state or quality of being potent
2.
latent or inherent capacity for growth or development
Word Origin
C16: from Latin
potentia
power, from
posse
to be able
Word Origin and History for
potence
n.
"potency," early 15c., from Old French
potence
"power," from Latin
potentia
(see
potent
).