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View synonyms for posse comitatus

posse comitatus

[ pos-ee kom-i-tah-tuhs, -tey- ]

noun

  1. the body of persons that a peace officer of a county is empowered to call upon for assistance in preserving the peace, making arrests, and serving writs.
  2. a body of persons so called into service.


posse comitatus

/ ˌkɒmɪˈtɑːtəs /

noun

  1. the formal legal term for posse
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of posse comitatus1

1620–30; < Medieval Latin: posse of the county
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Word History and Origins

Origin of posse comitatus1

Medieval Latin: strength (manpower) of the county
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Example Sentences

Did me and you have a search warrant or a posse comitatus when we rounded up them six Mexican cow thieves down in Hidalgo?

No citizen is bound to an active execution of this law, unless called upon as one of the posse comitatus.

When he arrived, he called for a posse comitatus to assist him in handling the situation; but no one responded.

The Baron who put John de Northwode and his posse comitatus to flight left a daughter, his sole heiress.

Straightway the magistrate hastened to the post-office, and swore in, as a posse comitatus, the first four men that he met.

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