Pot-au-feu Pot`-au`-feu" noun [ French, lit., pot on the fire.] (Cookery) A dish of broth, meat, and vegetables prepared by boiling in a pot, -- a dish esp. common among the French. Grant Allen.

Pot-bellied Pot"-bel`lied adjective Having a protuberant belly, like the bottom of a pot.

Pot-belly Pot"-bel`ly noun A protuberant belly.

Pot-sure Pot"-sure` (-shur) adjective Made confident by drink. [ Obsolete]

Pot-valiant Pot"-val`iant adjective Having the courage given by drink. Smollett.

Pot-walloper Pot"-wal`lop·er noun 1. A voter in certain boroughs of England, where, before the passage of the reform bill of 1832, the qualification for suffrage was to have boiled (walloped) his own pot in the parish for six months. 2. One who cleans pots; a scullion. [ Slang, U. S.]

Potable Po"ta·ble adjective [ French, from Latin potabilis , from potare to drink; akin to Greek po`tos a drinking, po`sis a drink, Sanskrit pā to drink, OIr. ibim I drink. Confer Poison , Bib , Imbibe .] Fit to be drunk; drinkable. "Water fresh and potable ." Bacon. -- noun A potable liquid; a beverage. "Useful in potables ." J. Philips.

Potableness Po"ta·ble·ness noun The quality of being drinkable.

Potage Pot"age noun See Pottage .

Potager Pot"a·ger noun [ French from potage soup, porridge. See Pottage .] A porringer. [ Obsolete] Grew.

Potagro Po·tag"ro noun See Potargo .

Potale Pot"ale` noun The refuse from a grain distillery, used to fatten swine.

Potamian Po·ta"mi·an noun [ Greek ... river.] (Zoology) A river tortoise; one of a group of tortoises ( Potamites , or Trionychoidea ) having a soft shell, webbed feet, and a sharp beak. See Trionyx .

Potamography Pot`a·mog"ra·phy noun [ Greek ... river + -graphy .] An account or description of rivers; potamology.

Potamology Pot`a·mol"o·gy noun [ Greek ... river + -logy .] A scientific account or discussion of rivers; a treatise on rivers; potamography.

Potamospongiæ Pot`a·mo·spon"gi·æ noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek ... river + ... a sponge.] (Zoology) The fresh-water sponges. See Spongilla .

Potance Po"tance noun [ French potence . See Potence , Potency .] (Watch Making) The stud in which the bearing for the lower pivot of the verge is made.

Potargo Po·tar"go noun [ Confer Botargo .] A kind of sauce or pickle. King.

Potash Pot"ash` noun [ Pot + ash .] (Chemistry) (a) The hydroxide of potassium hydrate, a hard white brittle substance, KOH, having strong caustic and alkaline properties; -- hence called also caustic potash . (b) The impure potassium carbonate obtained by leaching wood ashes, either as a strong solution ( lye ), or as a white crystalline ( pearlash ).

Potashes Pot"ash`es noun plural (Chemistry) Potash. [ Obsolete]

Potassa Po·tas"sa noun [ New Latin , from English potash .] (Chemistry) (a) Potassium oxide. [ Obsolete] (b) Potassium hydroxide, commonly called caustic potash .

Potassamide Pot`ass·am"ide noun [ Potass ium + amide .] (Chemistry) A yellowish brown substance obtained by heating potassium in ammonia.

Potassic Po·tas"sic adjective (Chemistry) Pertaining to, or containing, potassium.

Potassium Po·tas"si·um noun [ New Latin See Potassa , Potash .] (Chemistry) An Alkali element having atomic number 19, occurring abundantly but always combined, as in the chloride, sulphate, carbonate, or silicate, in the minerals sylvite, kainite, orthoclase, muscovite, etc. Atomic weight 39.1. Symbol K ( Kalium ). » It is reduced from the carbonate as a soft white metal, lighter than water, which oxidizes with the greatest readiness, and, to be preserved, must be kept under liquid hydrocarbons, as naphtha or kerosene. Its compounds are very important, being used in glass making, soap making, in fertilizers, and in many drugs and chemicals. Potassium permanganate , the salt KMnO ₄ , crystallizing in dark red prisms having a greenish surface color, and dissolving in water with a beautiful purple red color; -- used as an oxidizer and disinfectant. The name chameleon mineral is applied to this salt and also to potassium manganate. -- Potassium bitartrate . See Cream of tartar , under Cream .

Potassoxyl Pot`ass·ox"yl noun [ Potass ium + ox ygen + -yl .] (Chemistry) The radical KO, derived from, and supposed to exist in, potassium hydroxide and other compounds.

Potation Po·ta"tion noun [ Latin potatio , from potare . See Potable .] 1. The act of drinking. Jer. Taylor. 2. A draught. " Potations pottle deep." Shak. 3. Drink; beverage. "Thin potations ." Shak.

Potato Po·ta"to noun ; plural Potatoes . [ Spanish patata potato, batata sweet potato, from the native American name (probably batata ) in Hayti.] (Botany) (a) A plant ( Solanum tuberosum ) of the Nightshade family, and its esculent farinaceous tuber, of which there are numerous varieties used for food. It is native of South America, but a form of the species is found native as far north as New Mexico. (b) The sweet potato (see below). Potato beetle , Potato bug . (Zoology) (a) A beetle ( Doryphora decemlineata ) which feeds, both in the larval and adult stages, upon the leaves of the potato, often doing great damage. Called also Colorado potato beetle , and Doryphora . See Colorado beetle . (b) The Lema trilineata , a smaller and more slender striped beetle which feeds upon the potato plant, bur does less injury than the preceding species. -- Potato fly (Zoology) , any one of several species of blister beetles infesting the potato vine. The black species ( Lytta atrata ), the striped ( Latin vittata ), and the gray ( Latin cinerea, or Fabricii ) are the most common. See Blister beetle , under Blister . -- Potato rot , a disease of the tubers of the potato, supposed to be caused by a kind of mold ( Peronospora infestans ), which is first seen upon the leaves and stems. -- Potato weevil (Zoology) , an American weevil ( Baridius trinotatus ) whose larva lives in and kills the stalks of potato vines, often causing serious damage to the crop. -- Potato whisky , a strong, fiery liquor, having a hot, smoky taste, and rich in amyl alcohol ( fusel oil ); it is made from potatoes or potato starch. -- Potato worm (Zoology) , the large green larva of a sphinx, or hawk moth ( Macrosila quinquemaculata ); -- called also tomato worm . See Illust. under Tomato . -- Seaside potato (Botany) , Ipomœa Pes-Capræ , a kind of morning-glory with rounded and emarginate or bilobed leaves. [ West Indies] -- Sweet potato (Botany) , a climbing plant ( Ipomœa Balatas ) allied to the morning-glory. Its farinaceous tubers have a sweetish taste, and are used, when cooked, for food. It is probably a native of Brazil, but is cultivated extensively in the warmer parts of every continent, and even as far north as New Jersey. The name potato was applied to this plant before it was to the Solanum tuberosum , and this is the "potato" of the Southern United States. -- Wild potato . (Botany) (a) A vine ( Ipomœa pandurata ) having a pale purplish flower and an enormous root. It is common in sandy places in the United States. (b) A similar tropical American plant ( I. fastigiata ) which it is thought may have been the original stock of the sweet potato.

Potator Po·ta"tor noun [ Latin ] A drinker. [ R.] Southey.

Potatory Po"ta·to·ry adjective [ Latin potatorius , from potare to drink.] Of or pertaining to drinking. Ld. Lytton.

Potboiler Pot"boil`er noun A term applied derisively to any literary or artistic work, and esp. a painting, done simply for money and the means of living. [ Cant]

Potboy Pot"boy` noun A boy who carries pots of ale, beer, etc.; a menial in a public house.

Potch Potch intransitive verb [ Confer Poach to stab.] To thrust; to push. [ Obsolete] "I 'll potch at him some way." Shak.

Potch Potch transitive verb See Poach , to cook. [ Obsolete] Wiseman.

Potcher Potch"er noun One who, or that which, potches. Potcher engine (Paper Making) , a machine in which washed rags are stirred in a bleaching solution.

Potecary Pot"e·ca·ry noun An apothecary. [ Obsolete]

Poteen Po·teen" noun [ Confer Ir. potaim , poitim , I drink, poitin a small pot.] Whisky; especially, whisky illicitly distilled by the Irish peasantry. [ Written also potheen , and potteen .]

Poteen, Potheen Po·teen", Po·theen" noun [ Ir. poitin a small pot, whisky made in private stills; confer pota pot, from English pot .] Whisky distilled in a small way privately or illicitly by the Irish peasantry.

Potelot Po"te·lot noun [ French,; confer German pottloth black lead.] (Old Chem. & Min.) Molybdenum sulphide.

Potence Po"tence noun [ French, from Late Latin potentia staff, crutch, Latin , might, power. See Potency .] Potency; capacity. [ R.] Sir W. Hamilton.

Potency Po"ten·cy noun [ Latin potentia , from potens , -entis , potent. See Potent , and confer Potance , Potence , Puissance .] The quality or state of being potent; physical or moral power; inherent strength; energy; ability to effect a purpose; capability; efficacy; influence. "Drugs of potency ." Hawthorne.

A place of potency and away o' the state.

Shak.

Potent Po"tent adjective [ Latin potens , - entis , present participle of posse to be able, to have power, from potis able, capable (akin to Sanskrit pati master, lord) + esse to be. See Host a landlord, Am , and confer Despot , Podesta , Possible , Power , Puissant .] 1. Producing great physical effects; forcible; powerful' efficacious; as, a potent medicine. "Harsh and potent injuries." Shak.

Moses once more his potent rod extends.

Milton. 2. Having great authority, control, or dominion; puissant; mighty; influential; as, a potent prince. "A potent dukedom." Shak.

Most potent , grave, and reverend signiors.

Shak. 3. Powerful, in an intellectual or moral sense; having great influence; as, potent interest; a potent argument. Cross potent . (Her.) See Illust. (7) of Cross . Syn. -- Powerful; mighty; puissant; strong; able; efficient; forcible; efficacious; cogent; influential.

Potent Po"tent noun 1. A prince; a potentate. [ Obsolete] Shak. 2. [ See Potence .] A staff or crutch. [ Obsolete] 3. (Her.) One of the furs; a surface composed of patches which are supposed to represent crutch heads; they are always alternately argent and azure, unless otherwise specially mentioned. Counter potent (Her.) , a fur differing from potent in the arrangement of the patches.

Potentacy Po"ten·ta·cy noun [ See Potentate .] Sovereignty. [ Obsolete]

Potentate Po"ten·tate noun [ Late Latin potentatus , from potentare to exercise power: confer French potentat . See Potent , adjective ] One who is potent; one who possesses great power or sway; a prince, sovereign, or monarch.

The blessed and only potentate .

1 Tim. vi. 15.

Cherub and seraph, potentates and thrones.

Milton.

Potential Po·ten"tial adjective [ Confer French potentiel . See Potency .] 1. Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result; efficacious; influential. [ Obsolete] "And hath in his effect a voice potential ." Shak. 2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality. "A potential hero." Carlyle.

Potential existence means merely that the thing may be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is.

Sir W. Hamilton. Potential cautery . See under Cautery . -- Potential energy . (Mech.) See the Note under Energy . -- Potential mood , or mode (Gram.) , that form of the verb which is used to express possibility, liberty, power, will, obligation, or necessity, by the use of may , can , must , might , could , would , or should ; as, I may go ; he can write .

Potential Po·ten"tial noun 1. Anything that may be possible; a possibility; potentially. Bacon. 2. (Math.) In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces acting in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates which determine the position of a point, such that its differential coefficients with respect to the coördinates are equal to the components of the force at the point considered; -- also called potential function , or force function . It is called also Newtonian potential when the force is directed to a fixed center and is inversely as the square of the distance from the center. 3. (Electricity) The energy of an electrical charge measured by its power to do work; hence, the degree of electrification as referred to some standard, as that of the earth; electro-motive force.

Potentiality Po·ten`ti·al"i·ty noun The quality or state of being potential; possibility, not actuality; inherent capability or disposition, not actually exhibited.

Potentially Po·ten"tial·ly adverb 1. With power; potently. [ Obsolete] 2. In a potential manner; possibly, not positively.

The duration of human souls is only potentially infinite.

Bentley.

Potentiate Po·ten"ti·ate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Potentiated ; present participle & verbal noun Potentiating .] To render active or potent. Coleridge.

Potentiometer Po·ten`ti·om"e·ter noun [ Potential + -meter .] (Electricity) An instrument for measuring or comparing electrial potentials or electro-motive forces.