podesta

American  

[poh-des-tuh, poh-duh-stah] / poʊˈdɛs tə, ˌpoʊ dəˈstɑ /

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.

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podesta British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of podesta

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

podesta

D'Ucello bent closer to Daoud, and from his painful position, belly down, arms and legs stretched taut, Daoud lifted his head to look at the podesta.

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Robert Shea

But he remembered the podesta as a man of rare ability, who would have ruled Orvieto well, given a chance.

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Robert Shea

They might wonder when he had returned to Orvieto from Perugia, but they would have to suppose it was after the podesta took the clerks away from the gates.

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Robert Shea

The podesta unlocked a tall box of dark wood, inlaid with ivory, that stood on his desk.

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Robert Shea

"But the podesta must have good reason for detaining this David."

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Robert Shea

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