Middle English Dictionary Entry

impotent adj.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) Physically weak, enfeebled; of a limb: crippled; (b) unable (to do sth.), powerless; (c) of amends for an offense, ?of penance: ineffectual; (d) sexually impotent; (e) as noun: a feeble person; ?also, helplessness [quot.: c1450].

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)39* : If any man fall impotente, he hath styll the same wages that he had when he might doe best service, during my ladyes lyfe.
  • Note: Mod. gloss (b) 'incapacitated'

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (BodeMus 187:Harvey)f.26r (2.4) : By resoun þerof, þe 2 digestioun is impotent, i. vnmyȝty, for to make & wirke digestioun os it schulde done, & so is þe vryn white.
  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.114ra (3.19) : When 'ypostasis nigra' holt him low in þe botume, it seiþ þat þe mater is wel heuy & wol mykel, and þat kynde is wel feble and impotent for to wirken and wiþouten help & þat kynde faileþ and þerfor þer is noght but deþ.
Note: Additional quots., prob. sense (b).