English → Latin
“powerful” in Latin
valeōto have strength, influence, power; to avail; to be well, healthy, sound; to be worth, be worthyvalidusstrong; healthy, well; worthyfirmusstrong, powerful; stable, firm; faithful, steadfast, truerōbustusof oak, oaken; hard, firm, solid, robustlacertōsusmuscular, brawny, powerfulfortisstrong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast, stout; courageous, bravepossumbe able to, can, may; in the 3rd person singular (pote est): it may be, it is possible; to have influence or efficacy, tefficāxefficacious, effectual, powerful, efficientpraesēnspresent, immediate, at hand, existing; prompt; propitiousgravisheavy; pregnant; troublesome, hard
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
powerful
valens, validus (general term): firmus (firm; supporting, nourishing): robustus (strong, robust; of the human body: then also of a body politic, and of food). (The words are found in this connection and order.) firmus et robustus (e.g., respublica), valens et firmus (e.g., civitas), robustus et valens (e.g., homo): lacertosus (muscular; of men and animals): corpore vigens, corpore validus, corpore robusto (of persons, strong or able-bodied): fortis (that operates strongly, produces a powerful effect): potens, efficax (effective; e.g., of medicines): praesens (that operates quickly; of medicines: ☞ praesentaneus is late): gravis (weighty; of arguments or speakers): nervosus (nervous; of speakers).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for powerful?
- The usual Latin words for “powerful” are valeō, validus, firmus; also rōbustus, lacertōsus, fortis. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.