Never such a power . . . Was levied in the body of a land.
Shak.
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7. A large quantity; a great number; as, a power o&?; good things.
[Colloq.] Richardson.
8. (Mech.) (a) The rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or
mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an
animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power.
The English unit of power used most commonly is the horse power. See
Horse power.
(b) A mechanical agent; that from which useful mechanical energy is
derived; as, water power; steam power; hand power, etc. (c) Applied
force; force producing motion or pressure; as, the power applied at one
and of a lever to lift a weight at the other end.
This use in mechanics, of power as a synonym for force, is improper and
is becoming obsolete.
(d) A machine acted upon by an animal, and serving as a motor to drive
other machinery; as, a dog power.
Power is used adjectively, denoting, driven, or adapted to be driven,
by machinery, and not actuated directly by the hand or foot; as, a
power lathe; a power loom; a power press.
9. (Math.) The product arising from the multiplication of a number into
itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of
a number.
10. (Metaph.) Mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties
which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking,
reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc. I. Watts.
The guiltiness of my mind, the sudden surprise of my powers, drove
the grossness . . . into a received belief.
Shak.
11. (Optics) The degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical
instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope,
the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter
of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it
multiplies the apparent surface.
12. (Law) An authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest
vested either in himself or in another person; ownership by
appointment. Wharton.
13. Hence, vested authority to act in a given case; as, the business
was referred to a committee with power.
Power may be predicated of inanimate agents, like the winds and waves,
electricity and magnetism, gravitation, etc., or of animal and
intelligent beings; and when predicated of these beings, it may
indicate physical, mental, or moral ability or capacity.
Mechanical powers. See under Mechanical. -- Power loom, or Power press.
See Def. 8 (d), note. -- Power of attorney. See under Attorney. --
Power of a point (relative to a given curve) (Geom.), the result of
substituting the coˆrdinates of any point in that expression which
being put equal to zero forms the equation of the curve; as, x2 + y2 -
100 is the power of the point x, y, relative to the circle x2 + y2 -
100 = 0.
Pow"er*a*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of being effected or accomplished by
the application of power; possible. [R.] J. Young.