potential mood

Potential \Po*ten"tial\, a. [Cf. F. potentiel. See {Potency}.]
   1. Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result;
      efficacious; influential. [Obs.] "And hath in his effect a
      voice potential." --Shak.
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   2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality. "A potential
      hero." --Carlyle.
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            Potential existence means merely that the thing may
            be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is.
                                                  --Sir W.
                                                  Hamilton.
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   {Potential cautery}. See under {Cautery}.

   {Potential energy}. (Mech.) See the Note under {Energy}.

   {Potential mood}, or {Potential mode} (Gram.), that form of
      the verb which is used to express possibility, liberty,
      power, will, obligation, or necessity, by the use of may,
      can, must, might, could, would, or should; as, I may go;
      he can write.
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