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

Erculio has told me of your arrest and your sufferings at the hands of the podesta of Orvieto.

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Robert Shea

By this thorough confidence he so won the affection of the podesta of Verona that he concluded peace for him with Vicenza and the whole Guelf party, and then returned his castles to him.

From The Browning Cyclop?dia A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning by Edward Berdoe

"Well, you will have done what you thought right," said Daoud, after the podesta had finished listing all these evil consequences.

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Robert Shea

The podesta believes he is a Ghibellino spy sent here by the bastard King Manfred.

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Robert Shea

Thereupon the natives first gazed stupidly, not believing their eyes, then pounced on him and dragged him before the podesta.

From The Cloister and the Hearth A Tale of the Middle Ages by Charles Reade

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