puissant
UK /ˈpwɪs(ə)nt/ · US /ˈpjuəsənt/ adjective
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”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Powerful; strong; mighty; forcible; as, a puissant prince or empire. " Puissant deeds." Milton.
Etymology [F., originally, a p. pr. formed fr. L. posse to be able: cf. L. potens powerful. See Potent.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “puissant”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details