Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IM'PO-TENT, a. [Fr. from L. impotens.]

1. Weak; feeble; wanting strength or power; unable by nature, or disabled by disease or accident to perform any act. I know thou wast not slow to hear, / Nor impotent to save. Addison.
2. Wanting the power of propagation, as males.
3. Wanting the power of restraint; not having the command over; as, impotent of tongue. Dryden.