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potential

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Potential  \Po*ten"tial\,  n. 
  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 
  co["o]rdinates  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.  (Elec.)  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. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Potential  \Po*ten"tial\,  a.  [Cf.  F.  potentiel.  See  {Potency}.] 
  1.  Being  potent;  endowed  with  energy  adequate  to  a  result; 
  efficacious;  influential.  [Obs.]  ``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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  potential 
  adj  1:  existing  in  possibility;  "a  potential  problem";  "possible 
  uses  of  nuclear  poser"  [syn:  {possible}]  [ant:  {actual}] 
  2:  expected  to  become  or  be  in  prospect;  "potential  clients"; 
  "expected  income"  [syn:  {expected},  {likely}] 
  n  :  the  inherent  capacity  for  coming  into  being  [syn:  {potentiality}, 
  {potency}]




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