puissant means powerful, mighty, having authority. It carries an Arena rating of 1728, earned across 13 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, puissant ranks #358 of 42,752 for Qualifying, #2,462 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #2,802 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #3,453 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words.
puissant is pronounced /ˈpwɪs(ə)nt/.
Why “puissant” is a great word
Possessing great power, might, or influence. From Middle English puissaunt, from Middle French puissant (meaning "powerful"), from Old French pussant, present participle of pooir ("to be able"), ultimately from Latin posse ("be able"). Unlike "potent," which emphasizes an inherent capacity for effect, or "formidable," which implies a daunting strength that inspires awe, puissant denotes power actively wielded and sovereign in its manifestation. It is the massed cavalry on the horizon, the shadow of a cathedral spire falling across a marketplace, the deep, structural hum of a nation's industry—not the potential for force, but its settled and unquestioned presence, as certain as gravity.
Etymology
From Middle English puissaunt, from Middle French puissant, poissant, Anglo-Norman puissant, Old French pussant, et al., present participle of pooir (“to be able”), ultimately from Latin posse (“be able”).
adj
- Powerful, mighty, having authority.e.g.“Awake remembrance of these valiant dead, / And with your puissant arm renew their feats.” — 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount,
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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