podesta

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

noun

1. any of certain magistrates in Italy, as a chief magistrate in medieval towns and republics.

2. a person appointed to serve as mayor of an Italian city during the Fascist regime.

podesta

/ pɒˈdɛstə, podeˈsta /

noun

1. (in modern Italy) a subordinate magistrate in some towns

2. (in Fascist Italy) the chief magistrate of a commune

3. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of podesta¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of podesta¹

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