POTENTIAL, in grammar, an epithet applied to one of the moods of verbs. The potential is the same in form with the subjunctive, and is, according to Ruddiman, implied in that mood, for which reason that grammarian rejects it; but others will have it to differ from the subjunctive in this, that it always implies in it either passum, velo, or debeo. It is sometimes called the permissive mood, because it often implies a permission or concession to do a thing. See GRAMMAR, n. 43.