different between idempotent vs potent

English

Etymology

Latin roots, idem (“same”) +? potent (“having power”) – literally, “having the same power”.

Coined 1870 by American mathematician Benjamin Peirce in context of algebra.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /a?.d?m?po?.t?nt/, /?.d?m?po?.t?nt/

Adjective

idempotent (not comparable)

1. (mathematics, computing) Said of a function: describing an action which, when performed multiple times on the same subject, has no further effect on its subject after the first time it is performed.

   A projection operator is idempotent.

2. (mathematics) Said of an element of an algebraic structure with a binary operation (such as a group or semigroup): when the element operates on itself, the result is equal to itself.

   Every finite semigroup has an idempotent element.

   Every group has a unique idempotent element: namely, its identity element.

3. (mathematics) Said of a binary operation: such that all of the distinct elements it can operate on are idempotent (in the sense given just above).

   Since the AND logical operator is commutative, associative, and idempotent, then it distributes with respect to itself.

4. (mathematics) Said of an algebraic structure: having an idempotent operation (in the sense above).

Usage notes

See the Usage notes section of nullipotent.

Coordinate terms

• nilpotent
• nullipotent

Related terms

• idempotence
• nilpotent
• nullipotent
• unipotent

Translations

Noun

idempotent (plural idempotents)

1. (mathematics) An idempotent element.
2. (mathematics) An idempotent structure.

References

• “idempotent” at FOLDOC

German

Pronunciation

Adjective

idempotent

1. idempotent

Swedish

Adjective

idempotent

1. idempotent

Turkish

Adjective

idempotent

1. idempotent

English

Etymology

From Middle English potent, borrowed from Latin potens, potentis (“powerful, strong, potent”), present participle of posse (“to be able”), from potis (“able, powerful, originally a lord, master”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??t(?)nt/
• (General American) enPR: p?t?nt IPA^(key): /?po?t(?)nt/, [?p?o???n?t], [-n??]
• Rhymes: -??t?nt
• Hyphenation: po?tent

Adjective

potent (comparative more potent, superlative most potent)

1. Possessing strength.

   • Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence.

2. Powerfully effective.

3. Having a sharp or offensive taste.
4. (of a male) Able to procreate.
5. Very powerful or effective.

Translations

Noun

potent (plural potents)

1. (obsolete) A prince; a potentate.
2. (obsolete) A staff or crutch.
3. (heraldry) A heraldic fur formed by a regular tessellation of blue and white T shapes.

Antonyms

• impotent
• (heraldry): counterpotent

Derived terms

• idempotent
• nilpotent
• omnipotent
• pluripotent
• unipotent
• ventripotent
• equipotent

Related terms

• potence
• potency
• potentate
• potential
• potentiality
• potentiate
• potenty, potente

Further reading

• potent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• potent in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• nettop, top ten

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin potens, potentem.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Valencian) IPA^(key): /po?tent/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /pu?ten/

Adjective

potent (masculine and feminine plural potents)

1. powerful
2. potent (capable of sexual intercourse)

Further reading

• “potent” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Dutch

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin potens. This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /po??t?nt/
• Hyphenation: po?tent
• Rhymes: -?nt

Adjective

potent (not comparable)

1. (of males) capable of procreation, potent

Inflection

Antonyms

• impotent

Related terms

• potentaat
• potentiaal
• potentie
• potentieel

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /po?t?nt/

Adjective

potent (comparative potenter, superlative am potentsten)

1. potent

Declension

Derived terms

• impotent
• präpotent

Latin

Verb

p?tent

1. third-person plural present active subjunctive of p?t?

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin potens, potentem.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /po?tent/

Adjective

potent m or n (feminine singular potent?, masculine plural poten?i, feminine and neuter plural potente)

1. (literary) potent, strong, vigorous, virile

Declension

Related terms

• puternic
• poten??
• putin??
• putea
• putere

Swedish

Adjective

potent

1. potent, being effective in small quantities.

Declension

Related terms

• potens
• potential