puissant

[ pyoo-uh-suhnt, pyoo-is-uhnt, pwis-uhnt ]

adjective

, Literary.

1. powerful; mighty; potent.

puissant

/ ˈpjuːɪsənt /

adjective

1. archaic.
   powerful

Derived Forms

• ˈpuissantly, adverb

Other Words From

• puis·sant·ly adverb
• over·puis·sant adjective
• over·puis·sant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of puissant¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *possent- (stem of *possēns ), for Latin potent- (stem of potēns ), present participle of posse to be able, have power; potent ¹, -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of puissant¹

C15: from Old French, ultimately from Latin potēns mighty, from posse to have power

Example Sentences

He braced himself for one of Lillian’s cold, puissant lectures to enfilade the dispirited citadel of his self-respect.

From Literature

In this age of rapidly melting glaciers, terrifying megafires and ever more puissant hurricanes, of acidifying and rising oceans, it is hard to believe that any further prod to climate action is needed.

From The Guardian

The play, he writes, is “smart, compact and stirring” and “seems destined to have a life as a puissant postscript to Ibsen’s masterwork.”

From Los Angeles Times

The play, which opens next week on Broadway in a different production, seems destined to have a life as a puissant postscript to Ibsen’s masterwork.

From Los Angeles Times

His black sorcerer was more puissant than all of Euron’s three, even if you threw them in a pot and boiled them down to one.

From Literature