potentate
[poht-n-teyt]
- a person who possesses great power, as a sovereign, monarch, or ruler.
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Origin of potentate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for potentate
Contemporary Examples
Money became a potentate whose power is greater even than that of the president, controlling and outlasting any political fortune.
Historical Examples
I don't know whether that potentate ever communicated with me.
The potentate glanced at the pianist, and then dropped his heavy eyelids.
MelomaniacsJames Huneker
They know no gratitude, and they would not cringe to the greatest Christian potentate.
The Philippine IslandsJohn Foreman
The potentate saw that flash of glory, and put himself "on-side."
Ambrotox and Limping DickOliver Fleming
As a matter of fact, the newcomer did not look in the least like an Eastern potentate.
The Slave of SilenceFred M. White
potentate
- a person who possesses great power or authority, esp a ruler or monarch
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Word Origin
C14: from Late Latin potentātus ruler, from Latin: rule, command, from potens powerful, from posse to be able
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for potentate
n.
c.1400, from Old French potentat and directly from Late Latin potentatus "a ruler," also "political power," from Latin potentatus "might, power, rule, dominion," from potentem (nominative potens) "powerful" (see potent).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper