impotency

Im"po*tence, Im"po*ten*cy, n. Etym: [L. impotenia inability, poverty, want of moderation. See Impotent.] 1. The quality or condition of being impotent; want of strength or power, animal, intellectual, or moral; weakness; feebleness; inability; imbecility. Some were poor by impotency of nature; as young fatherless children, old decrepit persons, idiots, and cripples. Hayward. O, impotence of mind in body strong! Milton. 2. Want of self-restraint or self-control. [R.] Milton. 3. (Law & Med.) Defn: Want of procreative power; inability to copulate, or beget children; also, sometimes, sterility; barrenness.

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