impotence
- the condition or quality of being impotent; weakness.
- chronic inability to attain or sustain an erection for the performance of a sexual act.
- sterility, especially in the male.
- Obsolete. lack of self-restraint.
Origin of impotence
Related Words for impotence
infertility, powerlessness, helplessness, barrenness, feebleness, infirmity, infecundityExamples from the Web for impotence
Contemporary Examples of impotence
Brinkley explained that despite all the recent advances in medicine, there still was nothing to be done for impotence.
The Strange, True Tale of the Old-Timey Goat Testicle-Implanting 'Governor'Penny Lane
September 16, 2014
That is the height of cynicism, combined with an admission of impotence.
Male infertility was extremely stigmatic: it was falsely conflated with impotence.
European history also suggests the impotence of criminal law in these matters.
The reason, Foster argues, is that impotence implies a lack of virility, a lack of manliness.
Historical Examples of impotence
Madden quivered at his impotence to put his hand on the thief in the crowd.
The Cruise of the Dry DockT. S. Stribling
I had not then been a monument of impotence and misery for the world to gaze at.
ImogenWilliam Godwin
If you would be delivered from your impotence—oh, fear not to say, “I will, I will!”
The Ministry of IntercessionAndrew Murray
Mr. Bentham sighed, as though his impotence were a matter of sincere regret to him.
The AvengerE. Phillips Oppenheim
This shows the impotence of any person who tries to prevent such infamies.
The Sexual QuestionAugust Forel
Word Origin and History for impotence
early 15c., "physical weakness," also "poverty," from Middle French impotence "weakness," from Latin impotentia "lack of control or power," from impotentem (nominative impotens); see impotent. In reference to a want of (male) sexual potency, from c.1500. The figurative senses of the word in Latin were "violence, fury, unbridled passion." Related: Impotency.
impotence
(ĭm′pə-təns)- The quality or condition of being impotent.
- erectile dysfunction