| 释义 |
omnipotent, a.|ɒmˈnɪpətənt|
[a. F. omnipotent (11–12th c. in Littré), ad. L. omnipotent-em, f. omni- + potens, -ent-em able, powerful.]
1. Strictly said of God (or of a deity) or His attributes: Almighty, infinite in power.
c1314Guy Warw. (1887) p. 398 On Iesu omnipotent...He þouȝt wiþ dreri mode. c1386Chaucer Wife's Prol. 423 As helpe me verray god omnipotent. c1489Caxton Sonnes of Aymon i. 37 By god omnypotente I wolde lever have loste my castell. 1526Tindale Rev. xix. 6 Sayinge: Alleluya, for god omnipotent [Wyclif, almiȝty] hath raigned. 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. iii. ii. §1 A production of it by the omnipotent Will and Word of God. 1719De Foe Crusoe i. xv, I told him..That he [God] was Omnipotent, could do every Thing for us. 1870Bryant Iliad I. ii. 52 Whether the word of Jove omnipotent Be false or true.
2. gen. All powerful; having full or absolute power or authority; having unlimited or very great power, force, or influence; exceedingly strong or mighty.
1598Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 8 O omnipotent Loue, how nere the God drew to the complexion of a Goose. 1775Burke Lett., to Dk. Richmond (1844) II. 75 The tories and courtiers are powerful there, but not omnipotent. 1822Scott Nigel vi, The Duke of Buckingham, the omnipotent favourite both of the King and the Prince of Wales. 1879Froude Cæsar viii. 79 The Senate was thus made omnipotent and irresponsible.
b. humorously. Capable of anything; unparalleled; utter, arrant; huge, ‘mighty’. (Cf. almighty 2 ¶ .)
1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. ii. 121 This is the most omnipotent Villaine, that euer cryed, Stand, to a true man. 1596Nashe Have with you Wks. (Grosart) III. 51 Farre more boystrous and cumbersome than a pair of Swissers omnipotent galeaze breeches.
3. absol. or as n. An omnipotent being; spec. (with the) the Almighty, God.
1601Dolman La Primaud. Fr. Acad. (1618) III. 639 In such sort as it pleaseth the Omnipotent to make them worthy. 1667Milton P.L. i. 49 Who durst defie th' Omnipotent to Arms. 1829J. Miller Sibyl's Leaves I. 288 What can an Omnipotent find in the possession of his power, an Omniscient in the possession of his wisdom, but that love [etc.]? 1898G. Meredith Odes Fr. Hist. 62 The open mind, The Omnipotent's prime gift.
Hence † omnipotentness = omnipotence.
1727Bailey vol. II. |