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puissant

[ pyoo-uh-suhnt, pyoo-is-uhnt, pwis-uhnt ]
/ ˈpyu ə sənt, pyuˈɪs ənt, ˈpwɪs ənt /
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adjective Literary.
powerful; mighty; potent.
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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, adverbo·ver·pu·is·sant, adjectiveo·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

British Dictionary definitions for puissant

puissant
/ (ˈpjuːɪsənt) /

adjective
archaic, or poetic powerful

Derived forms of puissant

puissantly, adverb

Word Origin for puissant

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