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Potentate
(Po"ten*tate) n. [LL. potentatus, fr. potentare to exercise power: cf. F. potentat. See Potent,
a.] One who is potent; one who possesses great power or sway; a prince, sovereign, or monarch.
The blessed and only potentate. 1 Tim. vi. 15.
Cherub and seraph, potentates and thrones. Milton. Potential
(Po*ten"tial) a. [Cf. F. potentiel. See Potency.]
1. Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious; influential. [Obs.] "And hath in his
effect a voice potential." Shak.
2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality. "A potential hero." Carlyle.
Potential existence means merely that the thing may be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is. Sir
W. Hamilton. Potential cautery. See under Cautery. — Potential energy. (Mech.) See the Note under Energy.
— Potential mood, or mode (Gram.), that form of the verb which is used to express possibility, liberty,
power, will, obligation, or necessity, by the use of may, can, must, might, could, would, or should; as,
I may go; he can write.
Potential
(Po*ten"tial), n.
1. Anything that may be possible; a possibility; potentially. Bacon.
2. (Math.) In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces acting in space, a function of the rectangular
coordinates which determine the position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with respect to
the coördinates are equal to the components of the force at the point considered; — also called potential
function, or force function. It is called also Newtonian potential when the force is directed to a fixed
center and is inversely as the square of the distance from the center.
3. (Elec.) The energy of an electrical charge measured by its power to do work; hence, the degree of
electrification as referred to some standard, as that of the earth; electro-motive force.
Potentiality
(Po*ten`ti*al"i*ty) n. The quality or state of being potential; possibility, not actuality; inherent
capability or disposition, not actually exhibited.
Potentially
(Po*ten"tial*ly) adv.
1. With power; potently. [Obs.]
2. In a potential manner; possibly, not positively.
The duration of human souls is only potentially infinite. Bentley. Potentiate
(Po*ten"ti*ate) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Potentiated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Potentiating.] To render
active or potent. Coleridge.
Potentiometer
(Po*ten`ti*om"e*ter) n. [Potential + -meter.] (Elec.) An instrument for measuring or
comparing electrial potentials or electro-motive forces.
Potentize
(Po"ten*tize) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Potentized; p. pr. & vb. n. Potentizing.] To render the
latent power of (anything) available. Dunglison.
Potently
(Po"tent*ly) adv. With great force or energy; powerfully; efficaciously. "You are potently opposed."
Shak.
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