Powers

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpaʊ.ɚz/

Definitions

1. The abilities or capacities to do something or influence events ; the legal or official authority to act or control ; the mathematical use of exponents to show repeated multiplication of a number
2. Skills or faculties that enable action or performance ; rights or official permission granted by law or rules ; notation in math expressing a number multiplied by itself a certain number of times
3. Qualities or strengths that allow effect or control ; the formal right or control to make decisions ; the mathematical expression representing repeated factors of the same base

Etymology: "Powers" is the plural of "power," and the plural has its own history in English: the noun "power" in the sense of an ability to act is what the plural carries, so "powers" is most often used for faculties, capacities or abilities a person or thing possesses. The singular and plural share one origin, reaching English from Old French "poeir," which came from Vulgar Latin "potēre," meaning to be able. That Vulgar Latin verb grew out of the Latin "posse," to be able, which is also the source of English "potent." The word arrived in Middle English as "power" or "poer" and pushed aside the native Old English "anweald," which had meant power or rule. So the familiar word for might and capacity is itself a borrowing, while its older English counterpart dropped out of everyday use.

Synonyms: capabilities, abilities, forces, strengths, potencies

Antonyms: weaknesses, impotence