impotent
英['?mp?t(?)nt]
美['?mp?t?nt]
- adj. 無力的；無效的；虛弱的；陽萎的
詞態變化
副詞:?impotently;名詞:?impotence;
中文詞源
impotent 不起作用的，性無能的
im-,不，非，potent,強有力的，有效的，詞源同power,possible.引申詞義性無能的。
英文詞源
- impotent (adj.)
- late 14c., "physically weak, enfeebled, crippled," from Old French impotent "powerless, weak, incapable," from Latin imponentem (nominative impotens) "lacking control, powerless," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + ponentem (nominative potens) "potent" (see potent).
Meaning "having no power to accomplish anything" is from mid-15c.; that of "completely lacking in sexual power" (of males) is from mid-15c. Middle English also had a native term for this: Cunt-beaten (mid-15c.). The figurative sense in Latin was "without self-control, headstrong, violent." Related: Impotently.
雙語例句
- 1. The aggression of a bully leaves people feeling hurt, angry and impotent.
- 暴徒的侵犯令人們感到痛心、憤怒卻又無能為力。
來自柯林斯例句
- 2. They sit in impotent opposition while the country goes to the dogs.
- 國家敗落之際，他們加入了軟弱無力的反對黨。
來自柯林斯例句
- 3. Without the chairman's support, the committee is impotent.
- 沒有主席的支持，委員會是無能為力的。
來自《權威詞典》
- 4. We felt quite impotent to resist the will of the dictator.
- 我們感到無力抗拒獨裁者的意志.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》
- 5. They were virtually impotent against the power of the large companies.
- 他們實際上無力與實力雄厚的大公司抗衡.
來自《簡明英漢詞典》