podesta

[ poh-des-tuh, poh-duh-stah ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of certain magistrates in Italy, as a chief magistrate in medieval towns and republics.
a person appointed to serve as mayor of an Italian city during the Fascist regime.

podesta

/ pɒˈdɛstə; podeˈsta /

(in modern Italy) a subordinate magistrate in some towns
(in Fascist Italy) the chief magistrate of a commune
in medieval Italy
1. any of the governors of the Lombard cities appointed by Frederick Barbarossa
2. a chief magistrate in any of various republics, such as Florence

Origin of podesta¹

1540–50; < Italian podestà power < Latin potestās power, command

Origin of podesta¹

C16: from Italian: power, from Latin potestās ability, power, from posse to be able

The think tank was founded by John Podesta, a top adviser to President Obama.

Podesta warned that opposition to natural gas is impractical and not grounded in reality.

Coming from Podesta—who previously headed the George Soros-funded Center for American Progress—them was fighting words.

Lobbying Discloure Act records show that Podesta billed the Centre for $510,000 for 2013.

Anthony Podesta told Reuters that he did not discuss events in Ukraine with his brother.

In 1226, at the head of the Ghibellines, he got possession of Verona, and was appointed Podesta.

After this charming burst of natural feeling, the Podesta's virtuous lady goes on with her lament.

Arles was a free town when it was begun, with its own podesta and consuls like a flourishing commercial city in Italy.

The citizens stared in wonder at him as he dismounted before the great house of the Podesta.

After a short pause Antonio again set off, but the Podesta now followed him more mistrustingly.

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