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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

But, in practice, the exercise of the patria potestas was limited by custom and by the habit of consulting the older male members of the household before any important action was taken.

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

Later The potestas. we find a potestas within the city, elected for a year and assisted by seven councillors and seven rectores super capitibus artium.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

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