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.
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   2. Existing in possibility, not in actuality. "A potential
      hero." --Carlyle.
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            Potential existence means merely that the thing may
            be at ome time; actual existence, that it now is.
                                                  --Sir W.
                                                  Hamilton.
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   Potential cautery. See under Cautery.

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

   Potential mood, or Potential 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.
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Cautery \Cau"ter*y\, n.; pl. Cauteries. [L. cauterium, Gr. ?.
   See Cauter.]
   1. (Med.) A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, with a
      hot iron, or by application of a caustic that will burn,
      corrode, or destroy animal tissue.
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   2. The iron of other agent in cauterizing.
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   Actual cautery, a substance or agent (as a hot iron) which
      cauterizes or sears by actual heat; or the burning so
      effected.

   Potential cautery, a substance which cauterizes by chemical
      action; as, lunar caustic; also, the cauterizing produced
      by such substance.
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