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puissance

American  
[pyoo-uh-suhns, pyoo-is-uhns, pwis-uhns] / ˈpyu ə səns, pyuˈɪs əns, ˈpwɪs əns /

noun

Literary.
  1. power, might, or force.


puissance British  
/ ˈpjuːɪsəns, ˈpwiːsɑːns /

noun

  1. a competition in showjumping that tests a horse's ability to jump a limited number of large obstacles

  2. archaic power

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of puissance

1375–1425; late Middle English < Middle French, equivalent to puiss ( ant ) puissant + -ance -ance

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The reboot arrives at the peak of reggaeton’s pop puissance, and rightfully incorporates a lot more of the genre and its offshoots — Latin trap included.

From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2022

Brandi Carlile, tearing through her song “The Joke” with folk puissance, was the most emotional and the all-around best performer of the night.

From The New Yorker • Feb. 11, 2019

“Sinon, cela n’aurait aucun effet sur la puissance et l’étendue de son héritage”.

From New York Times • Apr. 13, 2017

The puissance does not count towards the leading rider award.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2012

When labor parties sprang like magic into puissance, a decade ago, the social conscience was ready to hear their plea.

From Socialism and Democracy in Europe by Orth, Samuel P.