impotency
無力・性的不能
解説 Definition
無力さや力がない状態。医学的には男性の性的機能障害を指す用語。一般的には権力や影響力を発揮できない無力な状態。
Impotency can mean a lack of power, strength, or ability to take effective action. It can also mean a man's inability to have sex because he cannot achieve or keep an erection. In medical use, this meaning is sensitive, and more modern terms are often preferred.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
「potent＝強力な」「powerful に近い語」を知っていると、impotency は“力がうまく働かない状態”としてつかみやすい。potent drug が「よく効く薬」なら、その反対側にある感じ。ニュースや心理では political impotency / a sense of impotency で「無力さ」、医療文脈では sexual impotency で「性的不能」。抽象的な powerless よりやや硬めで、impotence という近い形も一緒に見ておくと混同しにくい。
Link it to potent, which means powerful or effective. Impotency is the state where power or force does not work properly. It can mean general powerlessness in serious contexts, and it also appears in medical phrases like "sexual impotency."
例文
The patient discussed his concerns about impotency with his doctor.
患者は医師と性的不能についての懸念を話し合った。
Political impotency prevented the government from implementing reforms.
政治的な無力さは政府が改革を実行することを妨げた。
He felt a sense of impotency in the face of overwhelming challenges.
彼は圧倒的な課題に直面して無力感を感じた。
impotency の類義語・関連語
impotency の語源・成り立ち Etymology
impotency は im-「否定」+ potency「力・効力」から成り、ラテン語 potens「力のある」が土台です。文字通り「力がないこと」なので、一般的な無力さにも性的不能にも使われるのが自然に見えてきます。関連語は potent, omnipotent。
Impotency comes from im- meaning "not" and potency, from Latin potens, meaning "powerful" or "able." Its basic sense was simply "lack of power or strength." From that broad idea, English later used it both for general powerlessness and for sexual inability. Related words include potent and omnipotent.
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