puissance

puis·sance

noun
\ˈpwi-s^ən(t)s, ˈpyü-ə-sən(t)s, pyü-ˈi-s^ən(t)s\

Definition of PUISSANCE

: strength, power

Examples of PUISSANCE

1. <the president pledged to put the full puissance of the nation into the war effort>

Origin of PUISSANCE

Middle English, from Anglo-French pussance, puissance, from pussant able, powerful, from poer to be able, be powerful — more at power

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to PUISSANCE

Synonyms: energy, firepower, force, horsepower, might, muscle, potence, potency, power, sinew, strength, vigor

Antonyms: impotence, impotency, powerlessness, weakness

Related Words: aptitude, capability, capacity, competence, competency; adequacy, effectiveness, effectualness, usefulness

Near Antonyms: disability, inability, inaptitude, incapability, incapableness, incapacity, incompetence, incompetency; ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficaciousness, inefficacy, uselessness; helplessness, paralysis

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