I.powerless, impotent, weak, feeble (class.).
I. In gen.
(α).
Absol.: “neque homini infanti aut impotenti injuste facta conducunt,” Cic. Fin. 1, 16, 52: “ad opem impotentium,” id. Mur. 28, 59; cf. “Sall. Or. Licin.: (Juno) inulta cesserat impotens Tellure,” Hor. C. 2, 1, 26.—
(β).
With gen., having no power over, not master of, unable to control: “gens impotens rerum suarum,” Liv. 9, 14, 5; cf.: “equi impotentes regendi,” id. 35, 11, 10: “ob sitim impotentes sui,” Curt. 4, 7: “impotens irae,” Liv. 29, 9, 9: “laetitiae,” id. 30, 42, 17: “amoris,” Tac. H. 4, 44: “doloris,” Val. Max. 4, 6, 2: “animi,” Curt. 8, 1 fin. al. —
II. In partic., that is not master of himself, unbridled, headstrong, violent, insolent, immoderate, excessive, furious (syn.: effrenatus, infrenus).
A. Of animated beings: “mea (amica) est impotens, procax,” Ter. Heaut. 2, 1, 15: “victoria eos ipsos ferociores impotentioresque reddit,” Cic. Fam. 4, 9, 3: “impotens, iracundus, etc.,” id. Phil. 5, 9, 24: “homo impotentissim us, ardens odio,” id. ib. 5, 16, 42: “confidens, impotens, etc.,” id. ib. 11, 7, 16: “Marius immodicus gloriae, insatiabilis, impotens,” Vell. 2, 11, 1: “si contra impotentem suscepta est causa,” Quint. 6, 1, 12: “ferox atque impotens mulier,” Suet. Ner. 28: “inimici,” id. Claud. 15: “militibus impotens,” violent, despotic towards the soldiers, Just. 26, 3.—
B. Of inanim. and abstr. things: “quae effrenatio impotentis animi!” Cic. Phil. 5, 8, 22; cf.: “aut nullos animi motus aut non tam impotentes fuisse,” id. Part. Or. 35, 119: “laetitia,” id. Tusc. 5, 7, 17: “impotentissimus dominatus,” id. Fam. 10, 27, 1: “in multo impotentiorem subito rabiem accensi,” Liv. 29, 9, 6: “impotentissimae cogitationes (invidiae, avaritiae, etc.),” Quint. 12, 1, 6: “actiones,” id. 5, 13, 21: “superstitio (with saeva),” Curt. 4, 10: “postulatum,” Liv. 7, 41, 8: “jussa mulierum (with pervicacia),” Tac. A. 3, 33: “injuria,” Liv. 38, 56, 11: “amor,” Cat. 35, 12: “Aquilo,” Hor. C. 3, 30, 3; cf. “freta,” Cat. 4, 18.— Hence, adv.: impŏtenter .
1. (Acc. to I.) Powerlessly, weakly (very rare): “elephantos impotentius regi,” Liv. 27, 48, 11.— More freq., but perh. not anteAug.,
2. (Acc. to II.) Passionately, violently, intemperately: “aliquid facere,” Quint. 1, 3, 13: “dicere aliquid,” id. 6, 3, 83: “uti magna potentia,” Sen. Ep. 42: “flagitare divisionem agrorum divitum,” Just. 16, 4: regnare, Auct. B. Alex. 33. — Sup.: “quae impotentissime fecit,” Sen. Ben. 4, 17.
