potestas

Latin

Etymology

From verb possum (“able”), with noun of state suffix -tas

Pronunciation

IPA: /pɔˈtɛstaːs/

Noun

potestas (genitive potestātis); f, third declension

1. power, ability
2. mastery, control
3. authority, jurisdiction
4. dominion, political power
5. right, legal power
6. (of a word) meaning
7. possibility, opportunity

Related terms

• possum
• potestātīvus

Inflection

Number	Singular	Plural
nominative	potestas	potestātēs
genitive	potestātis	potestātum
dative	potestātī	potestātibus
accusative	potestātem	potestātēs
ablative	potestāte	potestātibus
vocative	potestas	potestātēs

Descendants

Albanian: pushtet English: poustie Old French: poesté

Italian: potestà, podestà Portuguese: potestade, podestade Spanish: potestad

References

• potestas in Charlton T. Lewis & Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1879