potestate
- noun
- Archaic
- In medieval times, a potestate often held significant influence over both politics and religion.
Examples
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Historically, a bishop was considered a potestate with spiritual and temporal authority in his diocese.
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The potestate of the local lord extended over all matters concerning his vassals.
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The result was Summa de potestate ecclesiastica, which was completed in the year 1320 and dedicated to the same Pope, and is considered the high water mark of papal pretensions.
Blog text (30)
Synonyms
163
2.1
A person who has power over a country or its people
49
5.1
A king or queen who rules a country and usually gets the job by birth
37
8.4
A person who rules a country for the monarch who is too young, absent, or ill
28
4.3
A person who has power because of their job or position
20
8.4
A person who has great power and controls a country or people
8
9.5
A person who rules a land for a king or queen
8
8.3
A ruler who has all power and treats people cruelly
7
9.4
A ruler with very great power who is not limited by law
6
4.4
A person who has an official job with power and responsibility in a government or organization
3
9.9
A ruler who has complete power over a country and its people
3
8.2
A person who secretly controls a leader from behind the scenes
2
9.9
A ruler who has almost total power and controls others
2
9.9
A diplomat who can make and sign agreements for their country
1
9.9
A joking name for a person who has great power in a group
1
9.9
An official in a colony who makes decisions for a foreign government
1
9.9
A person in a ruling family who inherits power from their relatives
1
8.8
A powerful person in a local area who controls people or decisions
A king or queen with complete power over a country
Antonyms
Idioms
- Archaic
A person who must obey the father or head of the family under ancient Roman law
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Etymology
Potestate comes from the Latin word potestas, which means 'power' and is related to posse, 'to be able'. So a potestate was someone who 'could' rule or command, and that is why it names a person with authority.