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Glite Dictionary
👼 An angelic power ⚖️ Authority or power
potestas

potestas

9.9
An angel who keeps the order of the world
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : potestad
  • In medieval texts, a potestas is often depicted as a guardian of the heavens.

Examples

  • The choir of potestas is said to oversee the balance between good and evil.

  • Artists in the Middle Ages frequently painted a potestas holding a sword and shield.

  • In Christian theology, potestas refers to specific angelic beings.

  • Can you explain the significance of potestas in Christian doctrine?

  • In Christian theology, a potestas is an angelic being responsible for maintaining cosmic order.

  • The potestas is recognized as a member of the angelic order that ensures harmony in the universe.

  • According to tradition, the role of a potestas involves overseeing the enforcement of divine law.

Surface Forms

potestas singular
potestates plural

Etymology

Potestas comes from Latin and means 'power', the same idea you see in English words like power and potent. In Christian writings it became the name for an angelic 'power' who keeps the world in order, so a potestas is pictured as a powerful guardian.