puissant

Puissant is an English adjective meaning having great power or influence. It is primarily used in literary, formal, or historic contexts and is not common in everyday modern speech. When employed, it often conveys a sense of grandeur, strength, or commanding authority, sometimes with martial or regal overtones.

Etymology and origins trace puissant to Old French puissant, which in turn comes from the Latin potens or potent-, meaning powerful. In English, the term entered in the late Middle Ages and has persisted as an archaic or elevated adjective. Its use today tends to be selective, lending a stately or ceremonial tone rather than plain descriptive function.

Usage and nuance: puissant is typically reserved for prose that aims for a classical or ornate mood. It can describe a ruler, an army, a force, or an institution regarded as especially strong or influential. Writers might employ it to evoke historical settings, epic fantasy, or rhetorical flourish. The word often implies not just physical strength but the capacity to effect change or command loyalty.

Example sentences: The king drew upon his puissant authority to quell the rebellion. The tale centers on a puissant artifact whose power reshapes the realm.

Related terms include powerful, mighty, potent, and influential. Puissant remains a stylistic choice best suited to formal or fictional prose, rather than contemporary everyday language.