v. Also 7–9 impower, (6–7 impowre). [f. EN- + POWER.]
1. trans. To invest legally or formally with power or authority; to authorize, license.
α. 1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 75. Letters from the Pope to them, empowering them to erect this Colledge.
1786. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), I. 567. A clause is inserted in it, empowering the King to discontinue it at any time.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), II. x. 266. The Petition and Advice had … empowered him to appoint a successor.
1860. Motley, Netherl. (1868), I. i. 18. They were empowered … to levy troops by land and sea.
β. 1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., VIII. i. § 8. These visitors, not as yet impowred by law.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, vii. 94. I do here impower him to remove it.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., II. i. 51. The commissioners were … impowered to survey the lands adjoining to the city of London.
2. To impart or bestow power to an end or for a purpose; to enable, permit.
α. 1681–6. J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 619. Much less can he empower others to do Miracles.
1727. De Foe, Syst. Magic, I. iv. (1840), 91. Some have doubted whether the Devil is empowered to take up any human shape.
1869. Contemp. Rev., XI. 260. Air and … exercise … empower the man for any intellectual or moral work.
β. 1667. Milton, P. L., X. 369. Thou us impow’rd to fortifie thus farr.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, XIV. 295. Impower’d the wrath of gods and men to tame.
† b. To bestow power upon, make powerful.
1690. Penn, Rise & Progr. Quakers (1834), 17. Who empowered them as their work witnesseth.
† 3. refl. To gain or assume power over. Obs.
1657. S. W., Schism Dispach’t, 167. When this strange Vsurpation impower’d itself over the whole Church. Ibid., 179. That William the Conquerour should have impower’d himself over England.
Hence Empowering ppl. a.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 141. Some instance of Gods impowering ghost.
