different between prowess vs puissance

English

Etymology

From Middle English prowesse, prouwesse, proues, prouesce, prouesse (“bravery in battle; act of bravery; excellence; nobility of character; intelligence”), from Old French proeche, proesce, proeësche (“goodness; excellence; bravery”), from Old French preu, prou, prouz, proz, pruz (“good; excellent; brave”). Compare English proud.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?p?a??s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p?a??s/
• Hyphenation: prow?ess

Noun

prowess (countable and uncountable, plural prowesses)

1. (uncountable) Skillfulness and manual ability; adroitness or dexterity.
2. (uncountable) Distinguished bravery or courage, especially in battle; heroism.
3. (countable) An act of prowess.
   1. An act of adroitness or dexterity.
   2. An act of distinguished bravery or courage; a heroic deed.

Derived terms

• prowessed (adjective)

Related terms

• prow

Translations

References

English

Alternative forms

• Puissance (show jumping)

Etymology

From Middle English puissaunce, from Anglo-Norman puissance, pusaunce, and other forms, from Old French puissant (“powerful”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?pju??.s(?)ns/, /?pw?-/
• Hyphenation: puis?sance

Noun

puissance (countable and uncountable, plural puissances)

1. Power, might or potency.
   • 2006, Clive James, North Face of Soho: Unreliable Memoirs. Vol. IV, London: Picador, ISBN 978-0-330-48128-1; republished London: Picador, 2007, ISBN 978-0-330-48127-4, page 66:

     Any impression of mental puissance might have been increased by the fact that I was usually to be seen working hard with notebook and biro, shaping up a new book review or a linking script […].

2. (equestrianism) Often Puissance: the high-jump component of the sport of show jumping.

Translations

French

Etymology

From Middle French puissance, derived from Old French puissant.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p?i.s??s/
• Rhymes: -??s

Noun

puissance f (plural puissances)

1. power (physical or figuratively)
2. dominion (state within the British Empire)

Derived terms

• en puissance
• puissance mondiale

Related terms

• pouvoir

Preposition

puissance

1. (mathematics) to the power of

   Deux puissance quatre égale seize.

Further reading

• “puissance” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French puissance.

Noun

puissance f (plural puissances)

1. power

Descendants

• French: puissance

Old French

Alternative forms

Etymology

From puissant, pussant.

Noun

puissance f (oblique plural puissances, nominative singular puissance, nominative plural puissances)

1. power; ability; authority
2. might; strength

Descendants

• English: puissance (borrowed through Anglo-Norman)
• Middle French: puissance
  • French: puissance