potent

Etymology

From Middle English potent, borrowed from Latin potens, potentis (“powerful, strong, potent”), present participle of posse (“to be able”), from potis (“able, powerful, originally a lord, master”).

adj

1. Possessing strength.
   a potent argument
2. Powerfully effective.
   a potent medicine
   When the party reach the bridegroom's house on their return, his mother and the other women come out, and burn a little mustard and human hair in a lamp, the unpleasant smell emitted by these articles being considered potent to drive away evil spirits. 1906, James George Frazer, Adonis, Attis, Osiris, volume 2, page 261
   Richardson took over, and Mitchell proceeded to the refreshment room in his turn, but when he came back some ten minutes later, it was evident that he had been indulging in something more potent than coffee, and he was in a very muddled state. 1950 January, David L. Smith, “A Runaway at Beattock”, in Railway Magazine, page 53
3. Having a sharp or offensive taste.
4. (of a male) Able to procreate.
5. Very powerful or effective.
6. (of a cell) Ability to differentiate.

noun

1. (obsolete) A prince; a potentate.
2. (obsolete) A staff or crutch.
3. (heraldry) A heraldic fur formed by a regular tessellation of blue and white T shapes.