† non-power Obs.
Also 4 noun-, nom-power, 5 non-, nown-poiar.
[a. AF. nonpoair, OF. nonpooir: see non- 1 and power.]
Lack of power; impotence.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. iii. pr. v. (1868) 75 Ryȝt on þat same side nounpower entriþ vndirneþ þat makeþ hem wreches. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xvii. 310 Nouȝt of þe nounpowere of god þat he ne is myȝtful To amende al þat amys is. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 374 God mai not faile on his side for noun-power or unwitt. c 1400 Laud Troy Bk. 17341 And ȝe ar now of nom-power, Ne vs comes no help fer ne ner. c 1460 Fortescue Abs. & Lim. Mon. vi. (1885) 121 All thes poiars comen of impotencie. And therfore thay mey properly by callid nown poiars. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 301 b/2, I haue herd thy commaundement and haue sene the nonpower of hym but I shal amende it. |