potence

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old 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)

  1. power or strength; potency
  2. 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, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • potence in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams

Czech

Etymology

Latin potis

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [ˈpotɛnt͡sɛ]
  • Rhymes: -ɛntsɛ

Noun

potence f

  1. potency

Further reading

  • potence in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
  • potence in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989

French

Etymology

From Old French, borrowed from Latin potentia.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /pɔ.tɑ̃s/
  • Audio (Paris)(file)

Noun

potence f (plural potences)

  1. (construction) post and braces
  2. gallows, gibbet (for hanging)

Usage notes

Beware that this is a false friend, meaning “gallows” (or similar wooden constructions), not “strength”.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Further reading

Anagrams

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