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

Dismasted in the deep of law I lie, A poor reward it is to stand confessed as The Virgil of the interdict de vi, The Petrarch of the patria potestas.

From Briefless Ballads and Legal Lyrics Second Series by Williams, James

Agrippa received proconsular imperium and the tribunicia potestas for five years, powers that were reconferred with those of Augustus in 13 B. C.

From A History of Rome to 565 A. D. by Boak, Arthur Edward Romilly