powerful

• powreful, powrefull (all obsolete)

From Middle English pouerful, powarfull, equivalent to power +‎ -ful.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpaʊɚfəl/

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• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpaʊəfl/
• Hyphenation: pow‧er‧ful

powerful (comparative powerfuller or powerfuler or more powerful, superlative powerfullest or powerfulest or most powerful)

1. Having, or capable of exerting power, potency or influence.
   • William Shakespeare

     The powerful grace that lies / In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess‎:

     As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once.

2. (mining) Large; capacious; said of veins of ore.

• mightful
• mighty
• powersome
• strengthful
• strong
• forceful

• powerless
• strengthless

• strong

powerful (comparative more powerful, superlative most powerful)

1. (Southern US) Synonym of very

• powreful