The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Potential \Po*ten"tial\, n.
   1. Anything that may be possible; a possibility; potentially.
      --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Math.) In the theory of gravitation, or of other forces
      acting in space, a function of the rectangular coordinates
      which determine the position of a point, such that its
      differential coefficients with respect to the coordinates
      are equal to the components of the force at the point
      considered; -- also called potential function, or force
      function. It is called also Newtonian potential when
      the force is directed to a fixed center and is inversely
      as the square of the distance from the center.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Elec.) The energy of an electrical charge measured by its
      power to do work; hence, the degree of electrification as
      referred to some standard, as that of the earth;
      electro-motive force.
      [1913 Webster]