impuissance

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

impuissance
    n 1: powerlessness revealed by an inability to act; "in spite of
         their weakness the group remains active" [syn:
         {helplessness}, {weakness}, {impuissance}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Impuissance \Im*pu"is*sance\, n. [Cf. F. impuissance.]
   Lack of power; inability. --Bacon.
   [1913 Webster]

         Their own impuissance and weakness.      --Holland.
   [1913 Webster]

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