potentiality 
with perfectly definite iJOtentialitiet, which we have only 
the alternatives of developing or not developing. 
11. Sid<ju.ick, Methods of Ethics, p. 170. 
3. A potential being; a being, or capacity for 
existence, not yet actualized, but wnich may 
be developed into actuality. 
The self-creation of such a potential universe would In- 
volve over again the difficulties here stated would Im- 
ply behind this potential universe a more remote potenti- 
ally, a. Spencer, First Principles, p. 33. 
The seed is the potentiality of the plant. 
Encyc. firtt.,11.622. 
potentialize (po-ten'shal-iz), v. t. and . ; pret. 
and pp. poten tializcd, ppr. potentializing. [< po- 
tential + -ize.~] To convert into or assume a 
potential or positional form : said of energy. 
The problem proposed is to find an expression for the 
distribution of potentialized energy throughout the passive 
mass. Amer. Jour. Sci., 3d ser., XXXI. 119. 
With a given metal, there Is large potentialuiny in the 
first stages of strain, and large dissipation in the final 
Stages. Nature, XL. 502. 
potentially (po-ten'shal-i), adv. If. Power- 
fully; potently; efficaciously. 
Indeed the wordes of holy scripture doe worke their ef- 
fectes potfntiaUif and thorowly by the mightle operation 
of the spirit of i ic nl. Foxe, Martyrs, p. 1'i'O, an. 1MU. 
2. In a potential manner or state ; in an unde- 
veloped or unrealized manner or state ; possi- 
bly; latently. 
Anaxlmander's Infinite was nothing else but an Infinite 
chaos of matter, In which were either actually or poten- 
tially contained all manner of qualities. 
Cud icu rt/i, Intellectual System, p. 12s. 
Blackness is produced upon the blade of a knife 1 1 Kit has 
out sour apples, if the juice, though both actually and po- 
tentially cold, be not quickly wiped off. 
Bvyle, On Colours. 
The apple already lies potentially in the blossom, us that 
may be traced also in the ripened fruit 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 121. 
potentiary (po-ten'shi-a-ri), n. ; pi. pntentiartcx 
(-riz). [< ML. 'potentiarius, < Ij.potentia, pow- 
er: see potence. Ct. plenipotentiary.] A person 
invested with or assuming power; one having 
authority or influence. 
The last great potentiary had arrived who was to take 
part in the family congress. Thackeray, Newcomes, xx.x. 
potentiate (po-ten'slri-at), r. t. ; pret. and pp. 
potentiated, ppr. -potentiating. [< L. as if "po- 
ttntiHtus,<. potentia, power: see potence.] To 
give power to. 
Substantiated and successively potentiated by an espe- 
cial divine grace. Coleridge. 
The power of the steam-engine derives its force and ef- 
fect, its working capacity, from the appliances by which 
III* potentiated I. e., from road-beds, rolling stock, etc.. 
In railroads, and from fly-wheels, cog-wheels, spindles, 
etc., In manufactories. Atner. Anthropologitt, I. 20. 
potentiation (po-ten-shi-a'shon), w. [< poten- 
tiate + -ion.'] The state or quality of being 
made potent; capacitation for certain ends. 
Estimating the increased potentiation [of steam-engines) 
at the average of forty-seven times, we shall have, from 
railroads alone, a working capacity equal to that of 5,293,* 
250,000 living horses or of 31,407,750,000 laboring men. 
Amer. Anthropologist, L 20. 
Potentilla (po-ten-til'a), . [NL. (Linnaeus, 
1737), so called in allusion to the repute of some 
species in medieval medicine; < L. poten(t-), 
potent: see potent.] 1. A large genus of rosa- 
ceous plants, type of the tribe Potfntillex, char- 
4651 
four or five bracts below the calyx, and many 
stamens in a single row. The number of species has 
been estimated at from 160 to 20, most cum mon In temper- 
ate and cold northern regions, only two being as yet known 
south of the equator. They are herbs or undershrubs, with 
mainly alternate pinnate or palmate leaves, adnate stip- 
ules, and usually white or yellow, often clustered. Mower*. 
Several species are frequently called u-ilil strairberry, as /'. 
Caiiadentu In the Atlantic .State* and P. Fragariatirum in 
England, but. while they are often very much like the true 
strawberry, Frayaaria, in habit, the latter 1* always differ- 
ent In Its fleshy receptacle. (See cinifUffoH and fcefinaer. ) 
Many brilliant-flowered species are occasional In cultiva- 
tion, under the name poUnUUa. P. anterina is called In 
England aooit-tan*y, wild taaty, yoote-yrcat, and tUeencted. 
Fur P. 'I'm in* ntillii, the must In repute In medicine, also 
known as tept/uil. see tunnrntil and bluodrout, 1. 
2. | /. r.) A plant of this genus. 
Potentillea (po-ten-til'e-e), n. pi. [NL. (Ben- 
thain and Hooker, 186tf), < Potentilla + -<*.] 
A tribe of dicotyledonous plants of the order 
Kogacete, characterized by a superior ovary, 
four or sometimes numerous carpels, each with 
a single ovule, and the four or five calyx-lobes 
provided with alternate bracts, it includes 14 
genera of herbs and shrubs, mainly of the north temperate 
zone, of which Potentilla Is the type, and the strawberry, 
Fngaria, the best-known. See also Ueum and Dryat. 
potentiometer (po-teu-shi-oin'e-ter), . [< L. 
potentia, power, + Or. ftirpov, measure.] An in- 
strument used for measuring the difference of 
electrical potential between two points. There 
are many forms of the Instrument, as the conditions un- 
der which It Is used differ widely. 
The potentiometer employed its own working batter)', 
mirror galvanometer, and Clark standard cell. 
Electric Ken. (Eng.), XXV. 642. 
potentize (po'ten-tiz), c. /. ; pret. and pp. po- 
tentized, ppr. potentKiug. [< patent + -tee.] 
In homeopathy, to induce power in, as drugs, by 
atteuuation. See jioU-ucy, 1 (d). 
In the most characteristic feature of Hahnemann's prac- 
tice "the potentixitvj," "dynamizing," of medicinal sub- 
stanceshe appears to have been original. 
Bneyc. Brit., XII. 127. 
potently (p6'tent-li),</di'. 1. In a potent man- 
ner; with potency; powerfully; with great en- 
ergy or force . 
You An patently opposed, and with a malice 
Of as great size. Shall., lien. VIII., v. 1. 1S4. 
What is there In thee, Moon ! that thou shouldst move 
My heart so potently! Keati, Eudymion, ill. 
2. Hence, extremely ; emphatically. 
From my own experience I begin to doubt most potent- 
ly of the authenticity of many of Homer's stories. 
Irriivj, Knickerbocker, p. Sss. 
potentness (po'tent-nes), M. The state orprop- 
erty of being potent ; powerf uluess ; strength ; 
potency. 
Poterieae (pot-e-ri'e-e), n. /<?. [NL. (Bentham 
and Hooker, 1H65),'< I'oterium + -of.] A tribe 
of rosaceous plants, characterized by an infe- 
rior ovary with one ovule, and fruit of one, 
two, or three dry achenes inclosed within the 
calyx-tube. It contains 11 genera, mainly of temperate 
regions, both herbs and shrubs, generally without petals, 
producing a dry fruit resembling a rose-hip in structure, 
and having the flve-lobed calyx provided with alternate 
bractlets. See Pulerium (the type) and agrimony. 
Poteritun (po-te'ri-um), . [NL. (Linnaeus, 
1737), so called in allusion to the former use 
of the leaves of P. Sunguiwirba, which have a 
potgun 
cucumber-like flavor, in preparing a medicinal 
ilrink called ci>l-tunkar<l, c|. v.; < L,.poteriuiH, < 
Gr. vorr/piov, a drinking-fii|>, < ~.,T/,/J, u drinking- 
cup, < ^/ rto- (in -an* i, verbal adj.), drink: see 
l>i>tntiiiii.] A genus of rosaceous plants, type 
of the tribe Pottrirte, characterized by pinnate 
leaves, absence of bractlets and petals, imbri- 
cated calyx, and herbaceous habit ; the burnets. 
There are a'bout 20 species, natives of north temperate and 
warm regions. They are leafy perennial herbs, erect from a 
decumbent liase. rarely becoming spiny shrubs. The pin- 
nate leaves are alternate, with long sheathing petioles and 
toothed and stalked leaflets. The small perfect or po- 
lygamodlu-clous flowers are borne In dense heads or spikes 
on long peduncles, and are green, purpllnh, pink, or white, 
conspicuous chiefly for the several or numerous slender 
stamens. The former genus Hangvitortia Is here Included. 
/'. Sani/uitorba Is the common burnet. A tall American 
species, /'. Caiunlfiuf. with white flowers In cylindrical 
splkca. appearing late In summer, Is the wild or Canadian 
burnet. See ttrnft~, 2. 
poternert, . Same 
He plucked out of his poterner, 
And longer wold not dwell ; 
Flowering Plant of Cinquefoil (PjttMttlta 
acterized by the numerous pistils on the dry re- 
ceptacle, styles not lengthened after flowering, 
He pulled forth a pretty mantle, 
lietweene two nut-shells. 
The Boy and the Mantle (Child's Ballads, I. 8). 
potestas (po-tes'tas), M. [L., power: see po- 
lestate.] In Hum. antii]., personal sovereignty 
or dominion of a man over persons dependent 
on him; the authority which the bead of a 
household possessed over wife, descendants, 
and slaves, as distinguished from official au- 
thority, called imperium; more specifically, 
such personal authority over children and de- 
scendants as members of the household !/ 
Inn potentan, which see) and over slaves (</<<- 
miiiica notestas, also called dvminium), as dis- 
tinguished from authority over a wife, called 
mtinu.i. The conception of potatai Is substantially that 
of the patriarchal authority consisting of the aggregate 
of the powers of punishment even to death, of control, 
and of disposal which In early times the chief of the 
household has generally been allowed to exercise, the 
ground of this authority being connected with the fact 
that retributive Justice dealt rather with the family than 
with individuals, and held the chief responsible for of- 
fenses committed by members of the household, and did 
not interfere with him In his discipline. Hence, potettat 
was often used as the equivalent of jut or right, those who 
were subject to It being said to lie alieni jtirit, or under 
the right of another, and those who were not subject to 
It tuijurix, or living In their own right. 
potestatet (po'tes-tat), . [< ME.pottstat,<.OF. 
potcstat = Sp. poteatad = Pg, pottstade = It. 
potexta, potentate, nott'Stade, dominion, podesta, 
a magistrate, < L. potesta(t-)n, power, a su- 
preme monarch, < putig, powerful : nee potent. 
Ct. the doublets podextn and jmunt.'] A poten- 
tate; a ruler. 
Whilom ther was an Irons potettat. 
Chaucer, Summoner's Tale, 1. 301). 
Still bee stood a potatate at sea. 
Manton. What yon Will, L 1. 
potestative (po'tes-ta-tiv), a. [= F.potextatif 
= Sp. Pg. potmtatico ; < LL. potestatitus, denot- 
ing power, < L. potesta(t-)s, power: see poten- 
tate.] Authoritative; befitting a ruler or po- 
tentate. [Rare.] 
So I might contemplate him (Christ) In a Judiciary 
posture, In a poteitativr, a sovereign posture, sitting, and 
consider him as able, as willing to relieve me. 
Dunne, Mennons, xl. 
Potestative condition. See conditional obligation, un- 
der conditional. 
pot-eye (pot'i), n. 1. In a spinning-frame, the 
glass or metal guide-eye through which the 
yarn passes from the rollers to the flyer. 2. 
In lilfachimj, a glass or earthenware ring through 
which the moist cloth is passed, in order to 
guide it and prevent its coming in contact with 
other objects. 
pot-fish (pot'fish), n. [= D. pottiMh = O. /."- 
jixi-h = &v.-.pottjlsk; as poll +Jtshi.] Thesperm- 
whale, I'Hyseter macrocejilialiu. 
pot-fisher (pot'fish'er), . 1. Sameasjw^-yiWi- 
erman. 2. Same as pot-hunter. 
pot-fisherman (pot'fish'er-man), n. One who 
fishes while floating on the surface of the water. 
supported by an earthen pot. The vessel not only 
buoys up the fisherman, but serves as a receptacle for the 
nsh caught. This method Is much practised In some Asi- 
atic rivers. 
potful (pot'ful), . [< ME. potful; < potl + 
-J'ul.] The contents of a pot; as mucn as a 
pot can hold. 
Honger was nat hardy on hem for to loke, 
For a pal/til of potage that Peense* wyf made. 
Piert Plovmm (C\ ix. 182. 
potgunt (pot'gun). ii. 1. A popgun. 
Bryng with thee my potgunne. hangyng by the wall. 
Udall, Roister Bolster, Iv. T. 
They are but as the potgvnt of boys. 
Bp. Hall. Honour of Married Clergy, p. 148. 
