Lewis & Short

impŏtens (inp-), entis, adj. [2. in-potens], powerless, impotent, weak, feeble (class.).

  1. I. In gen.
          1. (α) Absol.: neque homini infanti aut impotenti injuste facta conducunt, Cic. Fin. 1, 16, 52: ad opem impotentium, id. Mur. 28, 59; cf. Sall. Or. Licin.: (Juno) inulta cesserat impotens Tellure, Hor. C. 2, 1, 26.
          2. (β) With gen., having no power over, not master of, unable to control: gens impotens rerum suarum, Liv. 9, 14, 5; cf.: equi impotentes regendi, id. 35, 11, 10: ob sitim impotentes sui, Curt. 4, 7: impotens irae, Liv. 29, 9, 9: laetitiae, id. 30, 42, 17: amoris, Tac. H. 4, 44: doloris, Val. Max. 4, 6, 2: animi, Curt. 8, 1 fin. al.
  2. II. In partic., that is not master of himself, unbridled, headstrong, violent, insolent, immoderate, excessive, furious (syn.: effrenatus, infrenus).
    1. A. Of animated beings: mea (amica) est impotens, procax, Ter. Heaut. 2, 1, 15: victoria eos ipsos ferociores impotentioresque reddit, Cic. Fam. 4, 9, 3: impotens, iracundus, etc., id. Phil. 5, 9, 24: homo impotentissim us, ardens odio, id. ib. 5, 16, 42: confidens, impotens, etc., id. ib. 11, 7, 16: Marius immodicus gloriae, insatiabilis, impotens, Vell. 2, 11, 1: si contra impotentem suscepta est causa, Quint. 6, 1, 12: ferox atque impotens mulier, Suet. Ner. 28: inimici, id. Claud. 15: militibus impotens, violent, despotic towards the soldiers, Just. 26, 3.
          1. (β) Poet. with inf.: (regina) quidlibet impotens Sperare, Hor. C. 1, 37, 10.
    2. B. Of inanim. and abstr. things: quae effrenatio impotentis animi! Cic. Phil. 5, 8, 22; cf.: aut nullos animi motus aut non tam impotentes fuisse, id. Part. Or. 35, 119: laetitia, id. Tusc. 5, 7, 17: impotentissimus dominatus, id. Fam. 10, 27, 1: in multo impotentiorem subito rabiem accensi, Liv. 29, 9, 6: impotentissimae cogitationes (invidiae, avaritiae, etc.), Quint. 12, 1, 6: actiones, id. 5, 13, 21: superstitio (with saeva), Curt. 4, 10: postulatum, Liv. 7, 41, 8: jussa mulierum (with pervicacia), Tac. A. 3, 33: injuria, Liv. 38, 56, 11: amor, Cat. 35, 12: Aquilo, Hor. C. 3, 30, 3; cf. freta, Cat. 4, 18.
      Hence, adv.: impŏtenter.
      1. 1. (Acc. to I.) Powerlessly, weakly (very rare): elephantos impotentius regi, Liv. 27, 48, 11.
        More freq., but perh. not anteAug.,
      2. 2. (Acc. to II.) Passionately, violently, intemperately: aliquid facere, Quint. 1, 3, 13: dicere aliquid, id. 6, 3, 83: uti magna potentia, Sen. Ep. 42: flagitare divisionem agrorum divitum, Just. 16, 4: regnare, Auct. B. Alex. 33.
        Sup.: quae impotentissime fecit, Sen. Ben. 4, 17.