in the schools, is used to denote and distinguish a kind of qualities, which are supposed to exist in the body in potentia only, by which they are capable in some manner of affecting and impressing on us the ideas of such qualities, though not actually inherent in themselves; in which sense we say, potential heat, potential cold.

in medicine. Cauterics are distinguished into actual and potential. See CAUTERY.

in grammar, an epithet applied to one of the moods of verbs. The potential is the same in form with the subjunctive. See GRAMMAR.