I. -nt adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin impotent-, impotens, from in- in- (I) + potent-, potens potent — more at potent
1.
a. : not potent : lacking in power, strength, or vigor : deficient in capacity : weak , powerless
he liked to be bad and see them all impotent to correct him — Stuart Cloete
its impotent ruling classes — Edward Shils
a relatively impotent preparation of penicillin
a lame and impotent , and a trite, conclusion — Howard M. Jones
b. : unable to copulate : wanting in procreative power ; broadly : sterile — usually used of males
2.
[Latin impotent-, impotens ]
obsolete : incapable of self-restraint : ungovernable , violent
Synonyms: see sterile
II. noun
: one that is impotent