puissant

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

See synonyms for puissant on Thesaurus.com

adjectiveLiterary.

powerful; mighty; potent.

Origin of puissant

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; see potent¹, -ant

Other words from puissant

pu·is·sant·ly, adverb
o·ver·pu·is·sant, adjective
o·ver·pu·is·sant·ly, adverb

Words Nearby puissant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use puissant in a sentence

For he deemed a lady so much sought after must needs be a puissant dame.
The Merrie Tales Of Jacques Tournebroche | Anatole France
Then they were seated behind him, and the puissant horses shot off down the Corso and towards the Bastioni at a magnificent pace.
The Devourers | Annie Vivanti Chartres
High, puissant and redoubtable seigneur of Nointel, Jacques Bonhomme pardons you for the outrage he perpetrated upon you!
The Iron Trevet or Jocelyn the Champion | Eugne Sue
No more wars: puissant Ladies, shew conditions And freely I accept 'em.
Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (8 of 10) | Francis Beaumont
Half an hour later, Haward rose from his chair and bowed low as to some highborn and puissant dame.
Audrey | Mary Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for puissant

puissant

/ (ˈpjuːɪsənt) /

adjective

archaic, or poetic powerful

Origin of puissant

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

Derived forms of puissant

puissantly, adverb

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

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