*pow*

. A blasting powder or dynamite composed of nitroglycerin, wood fiber, sodium nitrate, and magnesium carbonate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. To sprinkle or cover with powder; to powder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. mental ability; intellectual acuity.
Syn. -- brain, learning ability, mental capacity, mentality, wit. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. (Photom.) luminous intensity; illuminating power, as of a lamp, or gas flame, measured in candelas, referring to the light of a standard candle. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. An agreement or understanding between the chief European powers, the United States, and Japan in 1900 to take only joint action in the Chinese aspect of the Eastern Question. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. To deprive of power; to divest of strength. H. Bushnell. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ From Dr. Dover, an English physician. ] (Med.) A powder of ipecac and opium, compounded, in the United States, with sugar of milk, but in England (as formerly in the United States) with sulphate of potash, and in France (as in Dr. Dover's original prescription) with nitrate and sulphate of potash and licorice. It is an anodyne diaphoretic. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Empowered p. pr. & vb. n. Empowering. ] 1. To give authority to; to delegate power to; to commission; to authorize (having commonly a legal force); as, the Supreme Court is empowered to try and decide cases, civil or criminal; the attorney is empowered to sign an acquittance, and discharge the debtor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give moral or physical power, faculties, or abilities to. “These eyes . . . empowered to gaze.” Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. to enable or permit; to give more opportunity for independent action. [ PJC ]

adj. 1. invested with legal power or official authority especially as symbolized by having a scepter.
Syn. -- sceptered, sceptred. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. enabled or permitted; as, the women's liberation movement empowered wives to take more control of their own lives. [ PJC ]

n. 1. (military) The relative capacity for delivering weapons fire on a target; as, the battleship has more firepower than a cruiser. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. [ figurative ] A measure of the resources available to a group which allows them to achieve their objectives; capacity for action. [ PJC ]

[ So called from Goa, on the Malabar coast, whither it was shipped from Portugal. ] A bitter powder (also called araroba) found in the interspaces of the wood of a Brazilian tree (Andira araroba) and used as a medicine. It is the material from which chrysarobin is obtained. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A black, granular, explosive substance, consisting of an intimate mechanical mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulphur. It is used in gunnery and blasting. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Gunpowder consists of from 70 to 80 per cent of potassium nitraate (niter, saltpeter), with 10 to 15 per cent of each of the other ingredients. Its explosive energy is due to the fact that it contains the necessary amount of oxygen for its own combustion, and liberates gases (chiefly nitrogen and carbon dioxide), which occupy a thousand or fifteen hundred times more space than the powder which generated them. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gunpowder pile driver, a pile driver, the hammer of which is thrown up by the explosion of gunpowder. --
Gunpowder plot (Eng. Hist.), a plot to destroy the King, Lords, and Commons, in revenge for the penal laws against Catholics. As Guy Fawkes, the agent of the conspirators, was about to fire the mine, which was placed under the House of Lords, he was seized, Nov. 5, 1605. Hence, Nov. 5 is known in England as
Guy Fawkes Day. --
Gunpowder tea, a species of fine green tea, each leaf of which is rolled into a small ball or pellet. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. vigorously energetic or forceful. high-powered executives
Syn. -- high-octane, high-voltage. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. capable of a high degree of magnification; -- used of optical instruments such as microscopes or telescopes. a high-powered microscope [ WordNet 1.5 ]

1. The power which a horse exerts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mach.) A unit of power, used in stating the power required to drive machinery, and in estimating the capabilities of animals or steam engines and other prime movers for doing work. It is the power required for the performance of work at the rate of 33, 000 English units of work per minute; hence, it is the power that must be exerted in lifting 33, 000 pounds at the rate of one foot per minute, or 550 pounds at the rate of one foot per second, or 55 pounds at the rate of ten feet per second, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The power of a draught horse, of average strength, working eight hours per day, is about four fifths of a standard horse power. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brake horse power, the net effective power of a prime mover, as a steam engine, water wheel, etc., in horse powers, as shown by a friction brake. See Friction brake, under Friction. --
Indicated horse power, the power exerted in the cylinder of an engine, stated in horse powers, estimated from the diameter and speed of the piston, and the mean effective pressure upon it as shown by an indicator. See Indicator. --
Nominal horse power (Steam Engine), a term still sometimes used in England to express certain proportions of cylinder, but having no value as a standard of measurement. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A machine worked by a horse, for driving other machinery; a horse motor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. See Empower. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Med.) Antimonial powder, first prepared by Dr. James, an English physician; -- called also fever powder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the ability to speak loudly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A nation powerful enough to influence events throughout the world.
Syn. -- world power, great power, power. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. Power derived from nuclear reactions; -- used at present especially of electrical power generated in atomic reactors, but encompassing also fusion power.
Syn. -- atomic energy, atomic power, nuclear energy, nuclear energy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A country possessing nuclear weapons. [ PJC ]

n. A ship for which the motive power comes from the energy generated by a nuclear reactor. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A submarine for which the motive power comes from the energy generated by a nuclear reactor. Same as nuclear submarine. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To excel in power; to overpover. [ Obs. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Overpowered p. pr. & vb. n. Overpowering. ] To excel or exceed in power; to cause to yield by superior power; to vanquish; to subdue; as, the light overpowers the eyes. “And overpower'd that gallant few.” Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To overbear; overcome; vanquish; defeat; crush; overwhelm; overthrow; rout; conquer; subdue. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A dominating power. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. rendered powerless especially by an excessive amount or profusion of something.
Syn. -- overcome, overwhelmed, swamped, engulfed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Having more than the required power; as, an overpowered hot rod. [ Colloq. ] [ PJC ]

a. Excelling in power; too powerful; irresistible. -- O`ver*pow"er*ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

{ } n. [ Lit., dustyfoot, i. e., dusty-footed dealers, fr. F. pied foot + poudreux dusty. ] (O. Eng. Law) An ancient court of record in England, formerly incident to every fair and market, of which the steward of him who owned or had the toll was the judge. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Law) The inherent power of a government to regulate its police affairs. The term police power is not definitely fixed in meaning. In the earlier cases in the United States it was used as including the whole power of internal government, or the powers of government inherent in every sovereignty to the extent of its dominions (11 Peters (U. S.) 102). The later cases have excepted from its domain the development and administration of private law. Modern political science defines the power as a branch of internal administration in the exercise of which the executive should move within the lines of general principles prescribed by the constitution or the legislature, and in the exercise of which the most local governmental organizations should participate as far as possible (Burgess). Under this limitation the police power, as affecting persons, is the power of the state to protect the public against the abuse of individual liberty, that is, to restrain the individual in the exercise of his rights when such exercise becomes a danger to the community. The tendency of judicial and popular usage is towards this narrower definition. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. Polverine, Pulverize. ] 1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust. [ 1913 Webster ]

Grind their bones to powder small. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder. See Gunpowder. [ 1913 Webster ]

Atlas powder,
Baking powder, etc. See under Atlas, Baking, etc. --
Powder down (Zool.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers. --
Powder-down feather (Zool.), one of a peculiar kind of modified feathers which sometimes form patches on certain parts of some birds. They have a greasy texture and a scaly exfoliation. --
Powder-down patch (Zool.), a tuft or patch of powder-down feathers. --
Powder hose, a tube of strong linen, about an inch in diameter, filled with powder and used in firing mines. Farrow. --
Powder hoy (Naut.), a vessel specially fitted to carry powder for the supply of war ships. They are usually painted red and carry a red flag. --
Powder magazine, or
Powder room. See Magazine, 2. --
Powder mine, a mine exploded by gunpowder. See Mine. --
Powder monkey (Naut.), a boy formerly employed on war vessels to carry powder; a powder boy. --
Powder post. See Dry rot, under Dry. --
Powder puff. See Puff, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Powdered p. pr. & vb. n. Powdering. ] [ F. poudrer. ] 1. To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder; to comminute; to pulverize; to triturate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder; to be sprinkle; as, to powder the hair. [ 1913 Webster ]

A circling zone thou seest
Powdered with stars. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be reduced to powder; to become like powder; as, some salts powder easily. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To use powder on the hair or skin; as, she paints and powders. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Reduced to a powder; sprinkled with, or as with, powder. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sprinkled with salt; salted; corned. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Powdered beef, pickled meats. Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) Same as Semé. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A flask in which gunpowder is carried, having a charging tube at the end. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A horn in which gunpowder is carried. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Powder, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

Powdering tub. (a) A tub or vessel in which meat is corned or salted. (b) A heated tub in which an infected lecher was placed for cure. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A mill in which gunpowder is made. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Affected with dry rot; reduced to dust by rot. See Dry rot, under Dry. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Easily crumbling to pieces; friable; loose; as, a powdery spar. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sprinkled or covered with powder; dusty; as, the powdery bloom on plums. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Resembling powder; consisting of powder. “The powdery snow.” Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Scot. pow, pou, a pool, a watery or marshy place, fr. E. pool. ] A dike a marsh or fen. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Powdery. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. (Zool.) A small British lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeoides, or Coregonus ferus); -- called also gwyniad and lake herring. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Same as Poor, the fish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. pouer, poer, OF. poeir, pooir, F. pouvoir, n. & v., fr. LL. potere, for L. posse, potesse, to be able, to have power. See Possible, Potent, and cf. Posse comitatus. ] 1. Ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might; as, a man of great power; the power of capillary attraction; money gives power. “One next himself in power, and next in crime.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm. “The power of fancy.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Capacity of undergoing or suffering; fitness to be acted upon; susceptibility; -- called also passive power; as, great power of endurance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Power, then, is active and passive; faculty is active power or capacity; capacity is passive power. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The exercise of a faculty; the employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government. [ 1913 Webster ]

Power is no blessing in itself but when it is employed to protect the innocent. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity. “The powers of darkness.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. Matt. xxiv. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A military or naval force; an army or navy; a great host. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Never such a power . . .
Was levied in the body of a land. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A large quantity; a great number; as, a power o&unr_; good things. [ Colloq. ] Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Mech.) (a) The rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The English unit of power used most commonly is the horse power. See Horse power. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) A mechanical agent; that from which useful mechanical energy is derived; as, water power; steam power; hand power, etc. (c) Applied force; force producing motion or pressure; as, the power applied at one and of a lever to lift a weight at the other end. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This use in mechanics, of power as a synonym for force, is improper and is becoming obsolete. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) A machine acted upon by an animal, and serving as a motor to drive other machinery; as, a dog power. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Power is used adjectively, denoting, driven, or adapted to be driven, by machinery, and not actuated directly by the hand or foot; as, a power lathe; a power loom; a power press. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Math.) The product arising from the multiplication of a number into itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of a number. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. (Metaph.) Mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking, reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

The guiltiness of my mind, the sudden surprise of my powers, drove the grossness . . . into a received belief. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Optics) The degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope, the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it multiplies the apparent surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. (Law) An authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest vested either in himself or in another person; ownership by appointment. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. Hence, vested authority to act in a given case; as, the business was referred to a committee with power. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Power may be predicated of inanimate agents, like the winds and waves, electricity and magnetism, gravitation, etc., or of animal and intelligent beings; and when predicated of these beings, it may indicate physical, mental, or moral ability or capacity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mechanical powers. See under Mechanical. --
Power loom, or
Power press. See Def. 8 (d), note. --
Power of attorney. See under Attorney. --
Power of a point (relative to a given curve) (Geom.), the result of substituting the coordinates of any point in that expression which being put equal to zero forms the equation of the curve; as, x2 + y2 - 100 is the power of the point x, y, relative to the circle x2 + y2 - 100 = 0. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Capable of being effected or accomplished by the application of power; possible. [ R. ] J. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of exerting power; powerful. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An airplane maneuver in which the pilot deads downward at a steep angle while the engines are operating at or near full power; -- a method to descend rapidly. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. To make a power dive, as of an airplane. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To cause (an airplane) to make a power dive; as, he power-dived his plane to escape the attackers. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. 1. Full of power; capable of producing great effects of any kind; potent; mighty; efficacious; intense; as, a powerful man or beast; a powerful engine; a powerful argument; a powerful light; a powerful vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

The powerful grace that lies
In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mining) Large; capacious; -- said of veins of ore. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Mighty; strong; potent; forcible; efficacious; energetic; intense. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pow"er*ful*ly, adv. -- Pow"er*ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]