- impotent
- 1390, "physically weak," from O.Fr. impotent "powerless," from L. imponentem (nom. impotens) "lacking control, powerless," from in- "not" + ponentem (nom. potens) "potent." Meaning "having no power to accomplish anything" is from 1444; that of "completely lacking in sexual power" is from 1594 (implied in impotency).