potestas
- noun
- /pəˈtɛstəs/
- Archaic
:
potestad
- In ancient Rome, a father had potestas over his household and children.
Examples
-
The Roman emperor held supreme potestas over his subjects.
-
The concept of potestas was central to the structure of Roman government.
-
Historians often discuss how potestas influenced the development of European legal systems.
-
In ancient Rome, potestas was often associated with political power.
-
In ancient Rome, a father had potestas over his household and children.
-
The Roman emperor held supreme potestas over his subjects.
-
The concept of potestas was central to the structure of Roman government.
Synonyms
∞
3.4
Ability to control people or events
731
3.5
Power to give orders and make people obey
3
6.6
Power to give orders and make decisions for others
Power to control people or places
Great power or influence that lets someone control others
Antonyms
How Powerful
8
9.0
127
8.0
- Formal
24
7.7
∞
3.4
- Archaic
731
3.5
9
5.8
Surface Forms
Etymology
Potestas comes from Latin and means 'power', the same idea behind English words like power and potent. In Roman law it meant the legal right to make decisions or control people, so potestas still shows the idea of official or formal power.