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Antonyms for powers


Grammar : Noun
Spell : pou-erz
Phonetic Transcription : ˈpaʊ ərz



Definition of powers

Origin :
  • c.1300, "ability; ability to act or do; strength, vigor, might," especially in battle; "efficacy; control, mastery, lordship, dominion; legal power or authority; authorization; military force, an army," from Anglo-French pouair, Old French povoir, noun use of the infinitive, "to be able," earlier podir (9c.), from Vulgar Latin *potere, from Latin potis "powerful" (see potent).
  • Whatever some hypocritical ministers of government may say about it, power is the greatest of all pleasures. It seems to me that only love can beat it, and love is a happy illness that can't be picked up as easily as a Ministry. [Stendhal "de l'Amour," 1822]
  • Meaning "one who has power" is late 14c. Meaning "specific ability or capacity" is from early 15c. Meaning "a state or nation with regard to international authority or influence" [OED] is from 1726. Used for "a large number of" from 1660s. Meaning "energy available for work is from 1727. Sense of "electrical supply" is from 1896.
  • Phrase the powers that be is from Rom. xiii:1. As a statement wishing good luck, more power to (someone) is recorded from 1842. A power play in ice hockey so called by 1940. Power failure is from 1911; power steering from 1921.
  • noun ability, competence
  • noun physical ability, capacity
  • noun control, dominance
Example sentences :
  • May the powers that guide our destiny, preserve you from any real cause for shame.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • The jealousy of the European powers, too, protects the Turk.
  • Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
  • Not the Trinity should come first to powers so limited as mine—but God.
  • Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
  • He is bringing all his powers to bear on them; and he has many and varied powers.
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • Yet the letter which Aylward had brought him gave him powers which he was not slow to use.
  • Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, etc.—Tit.
  • Extract from : « An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism » by Joseph Stump
  • For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
  • Extract from : « An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism » by Joseph Stump
  • The discovery which Ellinor had just made to me engrossed all my powers of attention.
  • Extract from : « Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10) » by Maria Edgeworth
  • They have to contend with the powers of darkness and the corruptions of nature.
  • Extract from : « Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I » by Francis Augustus Cox
  • It is leagued with the powers of darkness, in wresting man from his Maker.
  • Extract from : « The Works of Whittier, Volume VII (of VII) » by John Greenleaf Whittier

Synonyms for powers

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019