Dictionary
po•ten•cy
Pronunciation: (pōt'n-sē), [key]—
n.,
—pl. -cies for 4–6.
1. the state or quality of being potent.
2. power; authority.
3. efficacy; effectiveness; strength.
4. capacity to be, become, or develop; potentiality.
5. a person or thing exerting power or influence.
6. Math.See
cardinal number (def. 2).
Also,potence.Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.