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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.

Definition 2024


powerful

powerful

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

powerful (comparative powerfuller or powerfuler or more powerful, superlative powerfullest or powerfulest or most powerful)

  1. Having, or capable of exerting power, potency or influence.
    • William Shakespeare
      The powerful grace that lies / In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities.
    • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess:
      As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once.
  2. (mining) Large; capacious; said of veins of ore.

Synonyms

Antonyms

See also

Translations