puissance
UK: ˈpwiːsəns | US: ˈpwiːsəns
n. power, strength, or influence (often used in formal or literary contexts)
n. (Equestrianism) a test of a horse's ability to jump high obstacles
The word puissance entered English in the 15th century from Old French, where it originally denoted "power" or "ability." Its Latin root, potere, ties it to broader Indo-European concepts of capability (cf. "potent," "power"). The equestrian sense emerged in the 20th century, metaphorically extending the idea of "power" to a horse's physical prowess.
The king ruled with unmatched puissance, commanding loyalty from all.
The poem celebrates the puissance of nature over human ambition.
In the competition, the stallion demonstrated remarkable puissance by clearing the tallest fence.
Her intellectual puissance made her a formidable debater.
The novel explores the moral limits of political puissance.