Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PO-TAS'SI-UM, n.

A name given to the metallic basis of pure fixed vegetable alkali. According to Dr. Davy, 100 parts of potassa consist of 86.1 parts of the basis, and 13.9 of oxygen. – Med. Repos. Potassium has the most powerful affinity for oxygen of all substances known; it takes it from every other compound, and hence is a most important agent in chimical analysis.

PO-TA'TION, n. [L. potatio. See Potable.]

1. A drinking or drinking bout.
2. A draught. – Shak.
3. A species of drink. – Shak.

PO-TA'TOE, n. [Ind. batatas.]

A plant and the esculent part of the root of the Solanum tuberosum, a native of South America. The tuberous part of the root of this plant, which is usually called potatoe, constitutes one of the cheapest and most nourishing species of vegetable food; it is the principal food of the poor in some countries, and has often contributed to prevent famine. It was introduced into the British dominions by Sir Walter Ralegh or other adventurers in the 16th century; but it came slowly into use, and at this day is not much cultivated and used in some countries of Europe. In the British dominions and in the United States, it has proved one of the greatest blessings bestowed on man by the Creator.

POT'-BEL-LI-ED, a.

Having a prominent belly.

POT'-BEL-LY, n.

A protuberant belly.

POT'BOY, n.

A menial in a public house.

POTCH, v.t. [Fr. pocher, Eng. to poke.]

1. To thrust; to push. [Not used.] – Shak.
2. To poach; to boil slightly. [Not used.] – Wiseman.

POT-COM-PAN'ION, n.

An associate or companion in drinking; applied generally to habitual hard drinkers.

POTE'LOT, n. [Qu. G. pottloth, D. potlood, black lead.]

The sulphuret of molybden. – Fourcroy.

PO'TENCE, n.

In heraldry, a cross whose ends resemble the head of a crutch. – Encyc.

PO'TEN-CY, n. [L. potentia, from potens; possum, posse. See Power.]

1. Power; physical power, energy or efficacy; strength. – Shak.
2. Moral power; influence; authority. Now arriving / At place of potency and sway o' th' state. – Shak.

PO'TENT, a. [L. potens.]

1. Powerful; physically strong; forcible; efficacious; as, a potent medicine. Moses once more his potent rod extends. – Milton.
2. Powerful, in a moral sense; having great influence; as, potent interest; a potent argument. – Decay of Piety.
3. Having great authority, control or dominion; as, a potent prince. – Shak.

PO'TENT, n.

1. A prince; a potentate. [Not in use.] – Shak.
2. A walking staff or crutch. [Not used.] – Chaucer.

PO'TENT-A-CY, n.

Sovereignty. [Not used.] – Barrow.

PO'TENT-ATE, n. [Fr. potentat; It. potentato.]

A person who possesses great power or sway; a prince; a sovereign; an emperor, king or monarch. Exalting him not only above earthly princes and potentates, but above the highest of the celestial hierarchy. – Boyle.

PO-TEN'TIAL, a. [L. potentialis.]

1. Having power to impress on us the ideas of certain qualities, though the qualities are not inherent in the thing; as, potential heat or cold. – Encyc.
2. Existing in possibility, not in act. This potential and imaginary materia prima, can not exist without form. – Ralegh.
3. Efficacious; powerful. [Not in use.] – Shak. Potential cautery, in surgery, is the destruction of vitality, and the production of an eschar in any part of the body by an alkaline or metallic salt, &c. instead of a red hot iron, the use of which is called actual cautery. – Encyc. Potential mode, in grammar, is that form of the verb which is used to express the power, possibility, liberty or necessity of an action or of being; as, I may go; he can write. This, in English, is not strictly a distinct mode, but the indicative or declarative mode, affirming the power to act, instead of the act itself. I may go or can go, are equivalent to, I have power to go.

PO-TEN'TIAL, n.

Any thing that may be possible. – Bacon.

PO-TEN-TIAL'I-TY, n.

Possibility; not actuality. – Taylor. Bentley.

PO-TEN'TIAL-LY, adv.

1. In possibility; not in act; not positively. This duration of human souls is only potentially infinite. – Bentley.
2. In efficacy, not in actuality; as, potentially cold. – Boyle.

PO'TENT-LY, adv.

Powerfully; with great force or energy. You are potently opposed. – Shak.

PO'TENT-NESS, n.

Powerfulness; strength; might. [Little used.]

PO'TES-TA-TIVE, a. [from L. potestas.]

Authoritative. [Not used.] – Pearson.

POT'GUN, n. [for POPGUN. Not used.]

POT'-HANG-ER, n. [pot and hanger.]

A pot-hook.

POTH'E-CA-RY, n.

contracted from Apothecary, and very vulgar. [See the latter.]