puissance
Strength of rulers
Puissance is power, might, or strength—a formal or literary word rarely encountered outside specific contexts.
In equestrian sports, puissance is a high-jump competition where horses clear increasingly tall walls.
The adjective puissant means powerful: a puissant ruler, puissant forces.
Both words are more common in older texts than contemporary speech.
Great physical strength
- vigorActive physical strength
- forcefulnessPowerful assertive quality
- robustnessResistance to failure
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
stamina · endurance · vitality · dynamism · resilience · tenacity · brawn · muscle
Supreme independent authority
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
- dominionAuthority to rule
authority · command · control · predominance · influence · autocracy · tyranny · despotism
Titled ruling class
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- prestigeReputation commanding admiration
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
- oligarchyRule by few
gentry · patrician · plutocracy · magnate · tycoon · highborn · peerage · dynastic
At right angles groundward
- combinationJoining of multiple elements
- faultsImperfections or shortcomings
- jumpoffA starting point
- steeplechaseObstacle course race
derby · clearance · refusal · knockdown · spreads · rails · standards · cups
Segment of text
- pirouetteBallet turn on one foot
- caprioleLeaping horse kick
- collectionGathered set of items
- impulsionForce driving motion
canter · extension · engagement · cadence · suppleness · lightness · submission · straightness
might
Great physical strength
- vigorActive physical strength
- forcefulnessPowerful assertive quality
- robustnessResistance to failure
fortitude · stamina · endurance · vitality · dynamism · resilience · tenacity · brawn · muscle · hardiness
sovereignty
Supreme independent authority
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- ascendancyDominant power or influence
dominion · authority · command · control · predominance · influence · autocracy · tyranny · despotism · dictatorship
nobility
Titled ruling class
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- prestigeReputation commanding admiration
- privilegeExclusive right or benefit
oligarchy · gentry · patrician · plutocracy · magnate · tycoon · highborn · peerage · dynastic · landed
vertical
At right angles groundward
- combinationJoining of multiple elements
- faultsImperfections or shortcomings
- jumpoffA starting point
steeplechase · derby · clearance · refusal · knockdown · spreads · rails · standards · cups · striding
passage
Segment of text
- pirouetteBallet turn on one foot
- caprioleLeaping horse kick
- collectionGathered set of items
impulsion · canter · extension · engagement · cadence · suppleness · lightness · submission · straightness · contact
- equestrianhorse, dressage, rider, saddle, jump
- horse showsshow ring, horses, show rings, conformation, showmanship
- strengthstrength, might, brawn, power, muscle
- Equestrian Sportsdressage, show jumping, eventing, polo, reining
puissanceimpotence
Lack of strength or power
powerlessness · weakness · helplessness · feebleness · frailty
puissanceinefficacy
Inability to achieve intended outcome
incapability · inability · incompetence · ineffectuality · ineffectiveness
puissancefrailty
Weakness of body
weakness · fragility · debility · feebleness · decrepitude