IMPOTENCE, or IMPOTENCY, in general, denotes want of strength, power, or means, to perform any thing.
Divines and philosophers distinguish two sorts of impotency, natural and moral. The first is a want of some physical principle, necessary to an action, or where a being is absolutely defective, or not free and at liberty to act; the second only imports a great difficulty, as a strong habit to the contrary, a violent passion, or the like.