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puissant. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
puissant, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
puissant in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
puissant you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From Middle English puissaunt, from Middle French puissant, poissant, Anglo-Norman puissant, Old French pussant, et al., present participle of pooir (“to be able”), ultimately from Latin posse (“be able”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpwɪs(ə)nt/, /ˈpjuːɪs(ə)nt/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈpjuəsənt/, /ˈpwɪsənt/
Adjective
puissant (comparative more puissant, superlative most puissant)
- (archaic or literary) Powerful, mighty, having authority.
1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :Awake remembrance of these valiant dead, / And with your puissant arm renew their feats.
1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. , London: [Samuel Simmons], , →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: , London: Basil Montagu Pickering , 1873, →OCLC:For who can yet believe, though after loss,
That all these puissant legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend,
Self-raised, and repossess their native seat?
1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. , volume I, London: Benj Motte, , →OCLC, part I (A Voyage to Lilliput):I cried in a loud voice, "Long live the most puissant king of Lilliput!"
1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Enid”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., , →OCLC, page 5:‘O noble breast and all-puissant arms,
Am I the cause, I the poor cause that men
Reproach you, saying all your force is gone?
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Translations
Anagrams
French
Etymology
Old present participle of the verb pouvoir (formed with the stem puis-; compare the modern form pouvant), from Old French puissant, pussant.
Pronunciation
Adjective
puissant (feminine puissante, masculine plural puissants, feminine plural puissantes)
- powerful; mighty
Related terms
Further reading
Old French
Alternative forms
Etymology
From the present participle of pooir, povoir, formed with the stem puis- in conjugated forms of the verb.
Pronunciation
Adjective
puissant m (oblique and nominative feminine singular puissant or puissante)
- powerful; mighty
Declension
Related terms
Descendants