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podesta
[ poh-des-tuh, poh-duh-stah ]
/ poʊˈdɛs tə, ˌpoʊ dəˈstɑ /
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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.
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Origin of podesta
1540–50; <Italian podestà power <Latin potestās power, command
Words nearby podesta
poddie, poddle, poddy, poddy-dodger, -pode, podesta, podetiiform, podetium, podge, Podgorica, Podgorny
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use podesta in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for podesta
podesta
/ (pɒˈdɛstə, Italian podeˈsta) /
noun
(in modern Italy) a subordinate magistrate in some towns
(in Fascist Italy) the chief magistrate of a commune
(in medieval Italy)
- any of the governors of the Lombard cities appointed by Frederick Barbarossa
- a chief magistrate in any of various republics, such as Florence
Word Origin for podesta
C16: from Italian: power, from Latin potestās ability, power, from posse to be able
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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