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Webster 1913 Edition


Powerful

Pow′er-ful

,
Adj.
1.
Full of power; capable of producing great effects of any kind; potent; mighty; efficacious; intense;
as, a
powerful
man or beast; a
powerful
engine; a
powerful
argument; a
powerful
light; a
powerful
vessel.
The
powerful
grace that lies
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities.
Shakespeare
2.
(Mining)
Large; capacious; – said of veins of ore.
Syn. – Mighty; strong; potent; forcible; efficacious; energetic; intense.
–
Pow′er-ful-ly
,
adv.
–
Pow′er-ful-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition


Powerful

POW'ERFUL

,
Adj.
Having great physical or mechanical power; strong; forcible; mighty; as a powerful army or navy; a powerful engine.
1.
Having great moral power; forcible to persuade or convince the mind; as a powerful reason or argument.
2.
Possessing great political and military power; strong in extent of dominion or national resources; potent; as a powerful monarch or prince; a powerful nation.
3.
Efficacious; possessing or exerting great force or producing great effects; as a powerful medicine.
4.
In general, able to produce great effects; exerting great force or energy; as a powerful eloquence.
The word of God is quick and powerful. Heb.4.
5.
Strong; intense; as a powerful heat or light.