| 释义 |
im·po·tent
I. \-nt\ adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin impotent-, impotens, from in- in- (I) + potent-, potens potent — more at potent
1.
a. : not potent : lacking in power, strength, or vigor : deficient in capacity : weak, powerless
< he liked to be bad and see them all impotent to correct him — Stuart Cloete >
< its impotent ruling classes — Edward Shils >
< a relatively impotent preparation of penicillin >
< a lame and impotent, and a trite, conclusion — Howard M. Jones >
b. : unable to copulate : wanting in procreative power; broadly : sterile — usually used of males
2. [Latin impotent-, impotens] obsolete : incapable of self-restraint : ungovernable, violent
Synonyms: see sterile
II. noun
: one that is impotent |