Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EM-POW'ER, v.t. [from en or in and power.]

1. To give legal or moral power or authority to; to authorize, either by law, commission, letter of attorney, natural right, or by verbal license. The supreme court is empowered to try and decide all cases, civil or criminal. The attorney is empowered to sign an acquittance and discharge the debtor.
2. To give physical power or force; to enable. [In this sense not frequently used, and perhaps not used at all.]