Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Potential \Po*ten"tial\, a. [Cf. F. potentiel. See {Potency}.]
   1. Being potent; endowed with energy adequate to a result;
      efficacious; influential. [Obs.] ``And hath in his effect
      a voice potential.'' --Shak.

   2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality. ``A potential
      hero.'' --Carlyle.

            Potential existence means merely that the thing may
            be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is.
                                                  --Sir W.
                                                  Hamilton.

   {Potential cautery}. See under {Cautery}.

   {Potential energy}. (Mech.) See the Note under {Energy}.

   {Potential mood}, or {mode} (Gram.), that form of the verb
      which is used to express possibility, liberty, power,
      will, obligation, or necessity, by the use of may, can,
      must, might, could, would, or should; as, I may go; he can
      write.

Source : WordNet®

potential energy
     n : the mechanical energy that a body has by virtue of its
         position; stored energy [syn: {P.E.}]