power-limited
|pow-er-lim-it-ed|
🇺🇸
/ˈpaʊər-ˈlɪmɪtɪd/
🇬🇧
/ˈpaʊə-ˈlɪmɪtɪd/
having restricted power
Etymology
'power-limited' is a compound of 'power' + 'limited'. 'power' originates from Old French 'poeir'/'pouvoir' (later 'power') ultimately from Latin 'posse' meaning 'to be able', and 'limited' comes from Latin 'limitat-' from 'limitas'/'limes' meaning 'boundary' or 'limit'.
'power' entered Middle English from Old French (via Anglo-Norman) and became the English word 'power'; 'limited' developed from Latin through Old French/late Latin forms and Middle English 'limit(e)d', combining to form the modern compound 'power-limited' in technical usage.
Initially, 'power' referred to ability or force and 'limit' to a boundary; over time the compound came to mean specifically 'having restricted electrical or operational power' in technical and general contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a restricted amount of electrical power or operating capacity; limited in power output.
The security sensor is power-limited so it can operate safely on low-voltage supply.
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Adjective 2
in technical/regulatory contexts, classified as limited by standards (e.g., circuits or devices designed to meet 'power-limited' safety criteria).
Power-limited circuits are often exempt from certain wiring methods because their energy is insufficient to ignite a fire.
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Last updated: 2025/11/08 16:24