impotent的词源

英文词源

impotent (adj.)

late 14c., "physically weak, enfeebled, crippled," from Old French impotent "powerless, weak, incapable," from Latin imponentem (nominative impotens) "lacking control, powerless," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + ponentem (nominative potens) "potent" (see potent).

Meaning "having no power to accomplish anything" is from mid-15c.; that of "completely lacking in sexual power" (of males) is from mid-15c. Middle English also had a native term for this: Cunt-beaten (mid-15c.). The figurative sense in Latin was "without self-control, headstrong, violent." Related: Impotently.

中文词源

impotent：不起作用的，性无能的

im-,不，非，potent,强有力的，有效的，词源同power,possible.引申词义性无能的。

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：impotent 词源，impotent 含义。

impotent：无力的，虚弱的

词根词缀： im-不,无 + -pot-能够 + -ent形容词后缀