puissance

2 definitions found

puissance - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Puissance \Pu"is*sance\, n. [F., fr. puissant. See Puissant,
     and cf. Potency, Potance, Potence.]
     Power; strength; might; force; potency. " Youths of
     puissance." --Tennyson.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           The power and puissance of the king.     --Shak.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: In Spenser, Shakespeare, and Milton, puissance and
           puissant are usually dissyllables.
           [1913 Webster]

puissance - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  puissance
      n 1: power to influence or coerce; "the puissance of the labor
           vote"