different between potential vs promising

English

Etymology

From Late Latin potentialis, from Latin potentia (“power”), from potens (“powerful”); synchronically analysable as potent +? -ial.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /p??t?n??l/
• (US) IPA^(key): /po(?)?t?n??l/
• Hyphenation: po?ten?tial

Noun

potential (countable and uncountable, plural potentials)

1. Currently unrealized ability (with the most common adposition being to)

2. (physics) The gravitational potential: the radial (irrotational, static) component of a gravitational field, also known as the Newtonian potential or the gravitoelectric field.
3. (physics) The work (energy) required to move a reference particle from a reference location to a specified location in the presence of a force field, for example to bring a unit positive electric charge from an infinite distance to a specified point against an electric field.
4. (grammar) A verbal construction or form stating something is possible or probable.

Synonyms

• noumenon
• spirit

Antonyms

• matter
• phenomenon

Related terms

• potence
• potency
• potent
• potentate
• potentiality

Translations

Adjective

potential (not comparable)

1. Existing in possibility, not in actuality.

   Synonyms: noumenal, spiritual, virtual

   Antonyms: actual, phenomenal, real
2. (archaic) Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result

   Synonyms: efficacious, influential
3. (physics) A potential field is an irrotational (static) field.
4. (physics) A potential flow is an irrotational flow.
5. (grammar) Referring to a verbal construction of form stating something is possible or probable.

Translations

Further reading

• potential in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• potential in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Potential on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Potential (physics) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Swedish

Noun

potential c

1. potential

Declension

Related terms

• potens
• potentialvandring
• potentiell

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p??m?s??/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p??m?s??/
• Hyphenation: prom?is?ing

Adjective

promising (comparative more promising, superlative most promising)

1. Showing promise, and likely to develop in a desirable fashion.

   a promising young apprentice

2. Encouraging and inspiring confidence.

Translations

Verb

promising

1. present participle of promise

Noun

promising (plural promisings)

1. The act of making a promise.
   • 1992, Judith Jarvis Thomson, The Realm of Rights (page 299)

     So it cannot be supposed that promisings differ from other word-givings in that a word-giver makes a promise only if he or she uses the locution "I promise".