Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
potence. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
potence, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
potence in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
potence you have here. The definition of the word
potence will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
potence, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French potence (“power, a crutch”), from Latin potentia (“power, in Medieval Latin also crutch”), from potens (“powerful”); see potent.
Noun
potence (countable and uncountable, plural potences)
- Power or strength; potency.
- A stud that acts as a support of a pivot in a watch or clock.
Derived terms
Further reading
- “potence”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “potence”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Anagrams
Czech
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin potis.
Pronunciation
Noun
potence f
- potency
Declension
Declension of potence (soft feminine)
Further reading
- “potence”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
- “potence”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
- “potence”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech)
French
Etymology
Inherited from Old French, borrowed from Latin potentia.
Pronunciation
Noun
potence f (plural potences)
- (construction) post and braces
- gallows, gibbet (for hanging)
- stem (component on a bicycle)
Usage notes
Beware that this is a false friend, meaning “gallows” (or similar wooden constructions), not “strength”, from the Middle Latin meaning “crutch” of potentia.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Further reading
Anagrams