previous next
impŏtens (inp- ), entis, adj. 2. in-potens,
I.powerless, impotent, weak, feeble (class.).
I. In gen.
(α). Absol.: “neque homini infanti aut impotenti injuste facta conducunt,” Cic. Fin. 1, 16, 52: “ad opem impotentium,” id. Mur. 28, 59; cf. “Sall. Or. Licin.: (Juno) inulta cesserat impotens Tellure,” Hor. C. 2, 1, 26.—
(β). With gen., having no power over, not master of, unable to control: “gens impotens rerum suarum,” Liv. 9, 14, 5; cf.: “equi impotentes regendi,” id. 35, 11, 10: “ob sitim impotentes sui,” Curt. 4, 7: “impotens irae,” Liv. 29, 9, 9: “laetitiae,” id. 30, 42, 17: “amoris,” Tac. H. 4, 44: “doloris,” Val. Max. 4, 6, 2: “animi,” Curt. 8, 1 fin. al. —
II. In partic., that is not master of himself, unbridled, headstrong, violent, insolent, immoderate, excessive, furious (syn.: effrenatus, infrenus).
A. Of animated beings: “mea (amica) est impotens, procax,” Ter. Heaut. 2, 1, 15: “victoria eos ipsos ferociores impotentioresque reddit,” Cic. Fam. 4, 9, 3: “impotens, iracundus, etc.,” id. Phil. 5, 9, 24: “homo impotentissim us, ardens odio,” id. ib. 5, 16, 42: “confidens, impotens, etc.,” id. ib. 11, 7, 16: “Marius immodicus gloriae, insatiabilis, impotens,” Vell. 2, 11, 1: “si contra impotentem suscepta est causa,” Quint. 6, 1, 12: “ferox atque impotens mulier,” Suet. Ner. 28: “inimici,” id. Claud. 15: “militibus impotens,” violent, despotic towards the soldiers, Just. 26, 3.—
(β). Poet. with inf.: “(regina) quidlibet impotens Sperare,” Hor. C. 1, 37, 10.—
B. Of inanim. and abstr. things: “quae effrenatio impotentis animi!” Cic. Phil. 5, 8, 22; cf.: “aut nullos animi motus aut non tam impotentes fuisse,” id. Part. Or. 35, 119: “laetitia,” id. Tusc. 5, 7, 17: “impotentissimus dominatus,” id. Fam. 10, 27, 1: “in multo impotentiorem subito rabiem accensi,” Liv. 29, 9, 6: “impotentissimae cogitationes (invidiae, avaritiae, etc.),” Quint. 12, 1, 6: “actiones,” id. 5, 13, 21: “superstitio (with saeva),” Curt. 4, 10: “postulatum,” Liv. 7, 41, 8: “jussa mulierum (with pervicacia),” Tac. A. 3, 33: “injuria,” Liv. 38, 56, 11: “amor,” Cat. 35, 12: “Aquilo,” Hor. C. 3, 30, 3; cf. “freta,” Cat. 4, 18.— Hence, adv.: impŏtenter .
1. (Acc. to I.) Powerlessly, weakly (very rare): “elephantos impotentius regi,” Liv. 27, 48, 11.— More freq., but perh. not anteAug.,
2. (Acc. to II.) Passionately, violently, intemperately: “aliquid facere,” Quint. 1, 3, 13: “dicere aliquid,” id. 6, 3, 83: “uti magna potentia,” Sen. Ep. 42: “flagitare divisionem agrorum divitum,” Just. 16, 4: regnare, Auct. B. Alex. 33. — Sup.: “quae impotentissime fecit,” Sen. Ben. 4, 17.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

The National Endowment for the Humanities provided support for entering this text.

hide Dictionary Entry Lookup
Use this tool to search for dictionary entries in all lexica.
Search for in
hide References (31 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (31):
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 10.27.1
    • Cicero, Letters to his Friends, 4.9.3
    • Cicero, For Lucius Murena, 28.59
    • Cicero, Philippics, 5.8.22
    • Cicero, Philippics, 5.9.24
    • Suetonius, Divus Claudius, 15
    • Suetonius, Nero, 28
    • Tacitus, Annales, 3.33
    • Tacitus, Historiae, 4.44
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 27, 48.11
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 9, 14
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 29, 9.9
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 35, 11.10
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 7, 41
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 29, 9.6
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 30, 42.17
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 38, 56
    • Seneca, de Beneficiis, 4.17
    • Cicero, de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum, 1.16
    • Cicero, Tusculanae Disputationes, 5.7
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 1, 3.13
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 6, 1.12
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 6, 3.83
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 5, 13.21
    • Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria, Book 12, 1.6
    • Seneca, Epistulae, 42
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 4.10
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 4.7
    • Curtius, Historiarum Alexandri Magni, 8.1
    • Cicero, Partitiones Oratoriae, 35.119
    • Valerius Maximus, Facta et Dicta Memorabilia, 4.6.2
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: