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Showing results for potestas. Search instead for goettas.

potestas

American  
[poh-tes-tahs, -tuhs] / poʊˈtɛs tɑs, -təs /

noun

  1. the authority of a paterfamilias over all members of his family and household.


Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of potestas

First recorded in 1650–60, potestas is from the Latin word potestās literally, power, control, authority

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Some enslaved people were sold into bondage through patria potestas.

From Textbooks Apr. 19, 2023

The patria potestas, the authority of the father, was absolute.

From Salon Oct. 23, 2022

On the headboard of one of the beds, some past student had inscribed, with a Sharpie and a careful hand: ipsa scientia potestas est.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

Agrippa received proconsular imperium and the tribunicia potestas for five years, powers that were reconferred with those of Augustus in 13 B. C.

From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Boak, Arthur Edward Romilly

But this being often essayed was never permitted by God until this time, “quæ erat hora illorum et potestas tenebrarum.”

From The Condition of Catholics Under James I. by Gerard, John

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