I. ˈpau̇(ə)rfəl, -au̇əf-, -au̇wəf-, - R chiefly substand -au̇f- adjective
Etymology: Middle English powerfull, from power (I) + -full, -ful -ful
1.
a. : having great force or potency : strong , compelling
powerful state
powerful leader
powerful physique
powerful solvent
images that are always powerful , imaginative, and solid — Whitney Balliett
the … powerful immediacy of hunger — Lionel Trilling
a powerful influence for good — C.C.Walcutt
b. : having great prestige or effect : influential , stimulating
powerful clique
powerful journal
the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee — Vera M. Dean
love of the outdoors was a powerful factor in his decision to take up farming
music is powerful in the building up of … expansiveness of personality — H.A.Overstreet
2. : endowed with talent or ability : capable
here is one of our most powerful performers refusing to show his power — E.R.Bentley
3. chiefly dialect : great in amount or extent : big , considerable
think if they raise 75 or a hundred bu. of wheat they have a powerful crop — A.E.Fife
• pow·er·ful·ly -f(ə)lē, -li adverb
II. adverb
chiefly dialect : to a great degree or extent : very
was powerful glad to see me — Mark Twain
it was powerful dark going down through the holler — H.E.Giles