Adjacent Words

Power definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

POW'ER, n. [The Latin has posse, possum, potes, potentia. The primary sense of the verb is to strain, to exert force.]
1. In a philosophical sense, the faculty of doing or performing any thing; the faculty of moving or of producing a change in something; ability or strength. A man raises his hand by his own power, or by power moves another body. The exertion of power proceeds from the will, and in strictness, no being destitute of will or intelligence, can exert power. Power in man is active or speculative. Active power is that which moves the body; speculative power is that by which we see, judge, remember, or in general, by which we think.
Power may exist without exertion. We have power to speak when we are silent.
Power has been distinguished also into active and passive,the power of doing or moving, and the power of receiving impressions or of suffering. In strictness, passive power is an absurdity in terms. To say that gold has a power to be melted,is improper language,yet for want of a more appropriate word, power is often used in a passive sense, and is considered as two-fold; viz.as able to make or able to receive any change.
2. Force; animal strength; as the power of the arm, exerted in lifting, throwing or holding.
3. Force; strength; energy; as the power of the mind, of the imagination, of the fancy. He has not powers of genius adequate to the work.
4. Faculty of the mind, as manifested by a particular mode of operation; as the power of thinking, comparing and judging; the reasoning powers.
5. Ability, natural or moral. We say, a man has the power of doing good; his property gives him the power of relieving the distressed; or he has the power to persuade others to do good; or it is not in his power to pay his debts. The moral power of man is also his power of judging or discerning in moral subjects.
6. In mechanics, that which produces motion or force, or which may be applied to produce it. Thus the inclined plane is called a mechanical power, as it produces motion, although this in reality depends on gravity. The wheel and axle, and the lever, are mechanical powers, as they may be applied to produce force. These powers are also called forces, and they are of two kinds, moving power, and sustaining power.
7. Force. The great power of the screw is of extensive use in compression. The power of steam is immense.
8. That quality in any natural body which produces a change or makes an impression on another body; as the power of medicine; the power of heat; the power of sound.
9. Force; strength; momentum; as the power of the wind, which propels a ship or overturns a building.
10. Influence; that which may move the mind; as the power of arguments or of persuasion.
11. Command; the right of governing, or actual government; dominion; rule, sway; authority. A large portion of Asia is under the power of the Russian emperor. The power of the British monarch is limited by law. The powers of government are legislative, executive, judicial, and ministerial.
Power is no blessing in itself, but when it is employed to protect the innocent.
Under this sense may be comprehended civil, political, ecclesiastical, and military power.
12. A sovereign, whether emperor, king or governing prince or the legislature of a state; as the powers of Europe; the great powers; the smaller powers. In this sense, the state or nation governed seems to be included in the word power. Great Britain is a great naval power.
13. One invested with authority; a ruler; a civil magistrate. Romans 13.
14. Divinity; a celestial or invisible being or agent supposed to have dominion over some part of creation; as celestial powers; the powers of darkness.
15. That which has physical power; an army; a navy; a host; a military force.
Never such a power--
Was levied in the body of a land.
16. Legal authority; warrant; as a power of attorney; an agent invested with ample power. The envoy has full powers to negotiate a treaty.
17. In arithmetic and algebra, the product arising from the multiplication of a number or quantity into itself; as, a cube is the third power; the biquadrate is the fourth power.
18. In Scripture, right; privilege. John 1. 1 Corinthians 9.
19. Angels, good or bad. Colossians 1. Ephesians 6.
20. Violence, force; compulsion. Ezek 4.
21. Christ is called the power of God, as through him and his gospel, God displays his power and authority in ransoming and saving sinners. 1 Corinthians 1.
22. The powers of heaven may denote the celestial luminaries. Matthew 24.
23. Satan is said to have the power of death, as he introduced sin, the cause of death, temporal and eternal, and torments men with the feat of death and future misery.
24. In vulgar language, a large quantity; a great number; as a power of good things. [This is, I believe, obsolete, even among our common people.]
Power of attorney, authority given to a person to act for another.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: possession of controlling influence; "the deterrent power of nuclear weapons"; "the power of his love saved her"; "his powerfulness was concealed by a gentle facade" [syn: power, powerfulness] [ant: impotence, impotency, powerlessness]
2: (physics) the rate of doing work; measured in watts (= joules/second)
3: possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done; "danger heightened his powers of discrimination" [syn: ability, power] [ant: inability]
4: (of a government or government official) holding an office means being in power; "being in office already gives a candidate a great advantage"; "during his first year in office"; "during his first year in power"; "the power of the president" [syn: office, power]
5: one possessing or exercising power or influence or authority; "the mysterious presence of an evil power"; "may the force be with you"; "the forces of evil" [syn: power, force]
6: a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself [syn: exponent, power, index]
7: physical strength [syn: might, mightiness, power]
8: a state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world [syn: world power, major power, great power, power, superpower]
9: a very wealthy or powerful businessman; "an oil baron" [syn: baron, big businessman, business leader, king, magnate, mogul, power, top executive, tycoon] v
1: supply the force or power for the functioning of; "The gasoline powers the engines"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French poer, pouer, from poer to be able, from Vulgar Latin *pot?re, alteration of Latin posse — more at potent Date: 13th century 1. a. (1) ability to act or produce an effect (2) ability to get extra-base hits (3) capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect b. legal or official authority, capacity, or right 2. a. possession of control, authority, or influence over others b. one having such power; specifically a sovereign state c. a controlling group ; establishment — often used in the phrase the powers that be d. archaic a force of armed men e. chiefly dialect a large number or quantity 3. a. physical might b. mental or moral efficacy c. political control or influence 4. plural an order of angels — see celestial hierarchy 5. a. the number of times as indicated by an exponent that a number occurs as a factor in a product <5 to the third power is 125>; also the product itself <8 is a power of 2> b. cardinal number 2 6. a. a source or means of supplying energy; especially electricity b. motive power c. the time rate at which work is done or energy emitted or transferred 7. magnification 2b 8. scope I,3 9. the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a statistical test when a particular alternative hypothesis happens to be true Synonyms: power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine. power implies possession of ability to wield force, permissive authority, or substantial influence <the power to mold public opinion>. authority implies the granting of power for a specific purpose within specified limits <gave her attorney the authority to manage her estate>. jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits <the bureau having jurisdiction over alcohol and firearms>. control stresses the power to direct and restrain <you are responsible for the students under your control>. command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience <the army officer in command>. sway suggests the extent or scope of exercised power or influence <an empire that extended its sway over the known world>. dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority <given dominion over all the animals>. Synonyms: power, force, energy, strength, might mean the ability to exert effort. power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon <the awesome power of flowing water>. force implies the actual effective exercise of power <used enough force to push the door open>. energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work <a worker with boundless energy>. strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack <use weight training to build your strength>. might implies great or overwhelming power or strength <the belief that might makes right>. II. Date: 1540 transitive verb 1. to supply with power and especially motive power 2. to give impetus to intransitive verb 1. to move about by means of motive power 2. to move with great speed or force III. adjective Date: 1822 1. operated mechanically or electrically rather than manually <a car with power locks> <power tools> 2. of, relating to, or utilizing strength <plays a power game>; also powerful 1 <a power critic> 3. of, relating to, or being a meal at which influential people discuss business or politics <a power lunch>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 the ability to do or act (will do all in my power; has the power to change colour). 2 a particular faculty of body or mind (lost the power of speech; powers of persuasion). 3 a government, influence, or authority. b political or social ascendancy or control (the party in power; Black Power). 4 authorization; delegated authority (power of attorney; police powers). 5 (often foll. by over) personal ascendancy. 6 an influential person, group, or organization (the press is a power in the land). 7 a military strength. b a state having international influence, esp. based on military strength (the leading powers). 8 vigour, energy. 9 an active property or function (has a high heating power). 10 colloq. a large number or amount (has done me a power of good). 11 the capacity for exerting mechanical force or doing work (horsepower). 12 mechanical or electrical energy as distinct from hand-labour (often attrib.: power tools; power steering). 13 a a public supply of (esp. electrical) energy. b a particular source or form of energy (hydroelectric power). 14 a mechanical force applied e.g. by means of a lever. 15 Physics the rate of energy output. 16 the product obtained when a number is multiplied by itself a certain number of times (2 to the power of 3 = 8). 17 the magnifying capacity of a lens. 18 a a deity. b (in pl.) the sixth order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy. --v.tr. 1 supply with mechanical or electrical energy. 2 (foll. by up, down) increase or decrease the power supplied to (a device); switch on or off. Phrases and idioms: in the power of under the control of. more power to your elbow! an expression of encouragement or approval. power behind the throne a person who asserts authority or influence without having formal status. power block a group of nations constituting an international political force. power cut a temporary withdrawal or failure of an electric power supply. power-dive n. a steep dive of an aircraft with the engines providing thrust. --v.intr. perform a power-dive. power line a conductor supplying electrical power, esp. one supported by pylons or poles. power of attorney see ATTORNEY. power pack 1 a unit for supplying power. 2 the equipment for converting an alternating current (from the mains) to a direct current at a different (usu. lower) voltage. power play 1 tactics involving the concentration of players at a particular point. 2 similar tactics in business, politics, etc., involving a concentration of resources, effort, etc. power point Brit. a socket in a wall etc. for connecting an electrical device to the mains. power politics political action based on power or influence. power-sharing a policy agreed between parties or within a coalition to share responsibility for decision-making and political action. power station a building where electrical power is generated for distribution. the powers that be those in authority (Rom.
13:1). power stroke the stroke of an internal-combustion engine, in which the piston is moved downward by the expansion of gases. Derivatives: powered adj. (also in comb.). Etymology: ME & AF poer etc., OF poeir ult. f. L posse be able

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Accumulation Ac*cu`mu*la"tion, n. [L. accumulatio; cf. F. accumulation.] 1. The act of accumulating, the state of being accumulated, or that which is accumulated; as, an accumulation of earth, of sand, of evils, of wealth, of honors. 2. (Law) The concurrence of several titles to the same proof. Accumulation of energy or power, the storing of energy by means of weights lifted or masses put in motion; electricity stored. An accumulation of degrees (Eng. Univ.), the taking of several together, or at smaller intervals than usual or than is allowed by the rules.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Power Pow"er, n. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Poor, the fish.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Power Pow"er, n. [OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus.] 1. Ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might; as, a man of great power; the power of capillary attraction; money gives power. ``One next himself in power, and next in crime.'' --Milton. 2. Ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm. ``The power of fancy.'' --Shak. 3. Capacity of undergoing or suffering; fitness to be acted upon; susceptibility; -- called also passive power; as, great power of endurance. Power, then, is active and passive; faculty is active power or capacity; capacity is passive power. --Sir W. Hamilton. 4. The exercise of a faculty; the employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government. Power is no blessing in itself but when it is employed to protect the innocent. --Swift. 5. The agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity. ``The powers of darkness.'' --Milton. And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. --Matt. xxiv. 29. 6. A military or naval force; an army or navy; a great host. --Spenser. Never such a power . . . Was levied in the body of a land. --Shak.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(powers, powering, powered) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If someone has power, they have a lot of control over people and activities. In a democracy, power must be divided. ...a political power struggle between the Liberals and National Party. 2. Your power to do something is your ability to do it. Human societies have the power to solve the problems confronting them... He was so drunk that he had lost the power of speech. N-UNCOUNT: usu N to-inf, N of n 3. If it is in or within your power to do something, you are able to do it or you have the resources to deal with it. Your debt situation is only temporary, and it is within your power to resolve it... N-UNCOUNT: poss N 4. If someone in authority has the power to do something, they have the legal right to do it. The police have the power of arrest... N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl, oft the N to-inf 5. If people take power or come to power, they take charge of a country's affairs. If a group of people are in power, they are in charge of a country's affairs. In 1964 Labour came into power... He first assumed power in 1970... The party has been in power since independence in 1964. N-UNCOUNT: oft in N 6. You can use power to refer to a country that is very rich or important, or has strong military forces. In Western eyes, Iraq is a major power in an area of great strategic importance. N-COUNT: usu supp N 7. The power of something is the ability that it has to move or affect things. The Roadrunner had better power, better tyres, and better brakes. ...massive computing power. N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N 8. Power is energy, especially electricity, that is obtained in large quantities from a fuel source and used to operate lights, heating, and machinery. Nuclear power is cleaner than coal... Power has been restored to most parts that were hit last night by high winds... N-UNCOUNT 9. The device or fuel that powers a machine provides the energy that the machine needs in order to work. The 'flywheel' battery, it is said, could power an electric car for 600 miles on a single charge... VERB: V n • -powered ...battery-powered radios. ...nuclear-powered submarines. COMB in ADJ see also high-powered 10. Power tools are operated by electricity. ...large power tools, such as chainsaws. ...a power drill. ? hand ADJ: ADJ n 11. In mathematics, power is used in expressions such as 2 to the power of 4 or 2 to the 4th power to indicate that 2 must be multiplied by itself 4 times. This is written in numbers as 2⁴, or 2 x 2 x 2 x 2, which equals 16. N-SING: to the N of num, to the ord N 12. You can refer to people in authority as the powers that be, especially when you want to say that you disagree with them or do not understand what they say or do. The powers that be, in this case the independent Television Association, banned the advertisement altogether... PHRASE

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

pou'-er: This word, indicative of might, strength, force, is used in the Old Testament to render very many Hebrew terms, the translation in numerous instances being varied in the Revised Version (British and American) to words like "valor," "rule," "strength," "might," "dominion." The principal words for "power" in the New Testament are dunamis, and exousia. In the latter case the Revised Version (British and American) frequently changes to "authority" (Mr 3:15; 6:7; Eph 1:21, etc.) or "right" (Ro 9:21; 1Co 9:6; 2Th 3:9, etc.). Power is attributed preeminently to God (1Ch 29:11; Job 26:14; Ps 66:7; 145:11; Re 7:12, etc.). On this attribute of power of God, see OMNIPOTENCE. The supreme manifestation of the power, as of the wisdom and love of God, is in redemption (1Co 1:18,24). The preaching of the gospel is accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit (1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5, etc.). Miracles, as "mighty works," are denoted by the term "powers" (so Mt 11:21,23 the Revised Version margin, etc.). The end of all time's developments is that God takes to Him His great power and reigns (Re 11:17).

James Orr

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Ableness, efficacy, ability, capability, faculty, efficiency, cogency, competency, might. 2. Force, energy, strength, ability. 3. Susceptibility, capacity. 4. Faculty, talent, endowment, gift. 5. Authority, authoritativeness, rule, prerogative, sovereignty, sway, control, domination, dominion, influence, command, government. 6. Sovereign, potentate, governor, ruler, monarch. 7. Divinity, angel (good or bad), spirit. 8. Host, army, troop. 9. Fleet, navy.

Moby Thesaurus

Establishment, VIP, ability, able, absolute power, absolutism, acme, activity, actuate, administration, ally, ampleness, amplitude, animate, appurtenance, aptitude, archduchy, archdukedom, ascendancy, authoritative, authoritativeness, authorities, authority, authorization, baron, barrel, be-all and end-all, beef, bent, big gun, big man, big name, bigwig, birthright, bite, bitingness, blue ribbon, body politic, boundlessness, brass, brass hat, brawn, buffer state, bulk, bump, caliber, capability, capable, capacity, capital, captive nation, celebrity, championship, charisma, charm, chieftaincy, chieftainry, city-state, claim, claws, clout, clutches, colony, command, commonweal, commonwealth, compel, competence, competency, competent, compulsion, conjugal right, consequence, constituted authority, control, convincing, country, county, credit, cuttingness, decisiveness, delegated authority, demand, demonic energy, devices, dignitary, dignity, dint, direction, directorship, disposable resources, disposition, divine right, domain, dominance, dominant, domination, dominion, dower, dowry, drag, drive, drive on, driving force, droit, duchy, due, dukedom, dynamic, dynamism, earldom, effect, effective, effectiveness, effectual, efficacious, efficient, elder, electricity, eminence, empery, empire, enchantment, endowment, endurance, energetic, energy, enormity, enormousness, equipment, ergal, esteem, expanse, faculty, father, favor, figure, first place, first prize, fixity of purpose, flair, force, forceful, forcefulness, forcible, formidableness, forte, fortitude, forward, free city, fuel, fullness, function, funds, genius, gift, gigantism, give an impetus, give momentum, goad, good feeling, governance, government, grand duchy, grandeur, grandness, grasp, great, great man, great scope, greatness, grip, gripe, guts, gutsiness, hand, hands, hardiness, headship, heartiness, hegemony, height, helm, highest, hold, hugeness, immensity, impel, impellent, impelling force, imperium, impetus, importance, important person, impressiveness, impulse, impulsion, inalienable right, incentive, incidental power, incisiveness, incite, incitement, incumbents, indirect authority, inertia, infinity, influence, influential, influentiality, inherent authority, insinuation, instinct, intensity, interest, interests, intestinal fortitude, invincible, iron hand, iron will, irresistible force, jurisdiction, jus divinum, kinetic energy, kingdom, kingship, knack, land, largeness, lashings, lawful authority, leadership, legal authority, legitimacy, leverage, lion, long suit, lords of creation, lordship, lot, lump, lustiness, magisterialness, magnate, magnetism, magnitude, makings, man of mark, management, mandant, mandate, mandated territory, mandatee, mandatory, mass, masterdom, mastership, mastery, maximum, means, mess, method, metier, might, mightiness, mighty, mogul, moment, momentum, moral courage, moral fiber, mordancy, most, motivate, motive power, mountain, move, much, muchness, muscle, nabob, name, nation, nationality, natural endowment, natural gift, natural right, ne plus ultra, nervosity, nervousness, new high, notability, notable, obstinacy, palms, panjandrum, paramountcy, parts, peck, person of renown, personage, personality, persuasion, pillar of society, plenitude, poignancy, polis, polity, possession, potence, potency, potent, potential, potential energy, potentiality, powder, power elite, powerful, powerfulness, powers, powers that be, predominance, preponderance, prerogative, prescription, presidency, pressure, prestige, presumptive right, pretense, pretension, primacy, principality, principate, privilege, prodigiousness, propel, proper claim, property right, propulsion, protectorate, province, puissance, puissant, pull, punch, puppet government, puppet regime, purchase, put in motion, qualification, raj, realm, record, recourses, regality, regnancy, reign, reins of government, republic, repute, resorts, resources, right, rightful authority, robustness, royal prerogative, ruggedness, rule, ruling circle, sachem, satellite, say, seneschalty, set agoing, set going, set in motion, settlement, sight, sinew, sinewiness, skill, somebody, something, sovereign nation, sovereignty, speciality, stalwartness, stamina, state, staying power, steam, sticking power, stock, stoutness, strength, strength of mind, strength of purpose, strength of will, strenuous, strenuousness, strings, strong arm, strong flair, strong language, strong point, stupendousness, sturdiness, suasion, subtle influence, suggestion, sultanate, superiority, superpower, supply, supremacy, sway, talent, talents, talons, territory, the goods, the great, the say, the say-so, the stuff, the top, thrust, title, top brass, top people, top spot, toparchia, toparchy, toughness, tremendousness, trenchancy, turn, tycoon, upper hand, vastness, very important person, vested authority, vested interest, vested right, vicarious authority, vigor, vigorous, vigorousness, virtue, vitality, voltage, warrant, ways, ways and means, weight, weighty, what it takes, wherewith, wherewithal, whip hand, whip on, wieldy, will, will of iron, will power, worthy, zenith