potestas

American  

[poh-tes-tahs, -tuhs] / poʊˈtɛs tɑs, -təs /

noun

1. the authority of a paterfamilias over all members of his family and household.

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Other Word Forms

• potestal adjective

Etymology

Origin of potestas

First recorded in 1650–60, potestas is from the Latin word potestās literally, power, control, authority

Example Sentences

Some enslaved people were sold into bondage through patria potestas.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

The patria potestas, the authority of the father, was absolute.

From Salon • Oct. 23, 2022

On the headboard of one of the beds, some past student had inscribed, with a Sharpie and a careful hand: ipsa scientia potestas est.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

Ecclesiastica potestas tantum judicat et excommunicat haereticos, non occidit.

From The History of Freedom by Acton, John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, Baron

After another scandal—not the second only—of the same kind, he did marry the victim, and the marriage was the occasion of the singular exertion of patria potestas referred to above.

From A History of the French Novel, Vol. 1 From the Beginning to 1800 by Saintsbury, George