PUISSANCE

PRONUNCIATION: (PWIS-uhns, PYOO-i-suhns)

MEANING: noun: Power or strength.

ETYMOLOGY: From Old French puissance (power), from Latin posse (to be able). Ultimately from the Indo-European root poti- (powerful, lord) which also gave us possess, power, possible, posse, potent, plenipotentiary, Italian podesta, and Turkish pasha (via Persian). Earliest documented use: 1420

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P.U. -ISTANCE - the event "scent horizon" around a black skunk. (If you get any closer you're doomed!)