Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Empower \Em*pow"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Empowered}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Empowering}.]
   1. To give authority to; to delegate power to; to commission;
      to authorize (having commonly a legal force); as, the
      Supreme Court is empowered to try and decide cases, civil
      or criminal; the attorney is empowered to sign an
      acquittance, and discharge the debtor.

   2. To give moral or physical power, faculties, or abilities
      to. ``These eyes . . . empowered to gaze.'' --Keble.

Source : WordNet®

empower
     v 1: give or delegate power or authority to; "She authorized her
          assistant to sign the papers" [syn: {authorise}, {authorize}]
     2: give qualities or abilities to [syn: {endow}, {indue}, {gift},
         {invest}, {endue}]