Pu"is*sance, n. [F., fr.puissant. See Puissant, and cf. Potency, Potance, Potence.]
Power; strength; might; force; potency.
" Youths of
puissance."
Tennyson.
The power and puissance of the king.
Shak.
In Spenser, Shakespeare, and Milton, puissance and puissant are usually dissyllables.
© Webster 1913.