■ noun
1》 the ability to do something or act in a particular way.
2》 the capacity to influence the behaviour of others, the emotions, or the course of events.
3》 a right or authority given or delegated to a person or body.
↘political authority or control.
4》 a country viewed in terms of its international influence and military strength: a world ~.
5》 physical strength or force.
↘capacity or performance of an engine or other device.
↘the magnifying capacity of a lens.
6》 energy that is produced by mechanical, electrical, or other means.
↘[as modifier ] driven by such energy: a ~ drill.
7》 Physics the rate of doing work, measured in watts or horse ~.
8》 Mathematics the product obtained when a number is multiplied by itself a certain number of times.
■ verb
1》 supply with ~.
↘( ~ something up/down ) switch an electrically ~ed device on or off.
2》 move or cause to move with speed or force: he ~ed round a bend.
Phrases
do someone a ~ of good informal be very beneficial to someone.
the ~s that be the authorities. [with biblical allusion to Rom. 13:1.]
Derivatives
~ed adjective
~less adjective
~lessly adverb
~lessness noun
Origin
ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. poeir , from an alt. of L. posse 'be able'.