{ } n. [ L. impotenia inability, poverty, lack of moderation. See Impotent. ] 1. The quality or condition of being impotent; lack of strength or power, animal, intellectual, or moral; weakness; feebleness; inability; imbecility. [ 1913 Webster ] Some were poor by impotency of nature; as young fatherless children, old decrepit persons, idiots, and cripples. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ] O, impotence of mind in body strong! Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Lack of self-restraint or self-control. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Law & Med.) Lack of procreative power; inability to copulate, or beget children; also, sometimes, sterility; barrenness; specifically, in males: the inability to achieve or sustain a penile erection; erectile dysfunction. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ] Variants: Impotence | 
