potestas

[poh-tes-tahs]

potestas Definition

• 1. power, authority, control
• 2. legal right or permission

Using potestas: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "potestas" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The king had absolute potestas over his kingdom.

• Example

  The potestas of the government is limited by the constitution.

• Example

  The company's CEO has full potestas to make decisions regarding the business.

potestas Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for potestas

• jurisdiction
• command
• sovereignty
• supremacy
• dominion

Antonyms for potestas

• powerlessness
• weakness
• subordination

Phrases with potestas

• potestas clavium

  power of the keys, a term used in the Roman Catholic Church for the power given to a priest to forgive sins

  Example

  The priest exercised his potestas clavium during confession.

• potestas regia

  royal power, the power held by a monarch or king

  Example

  The potestas regia was absolute in the hands of the king.

• potestas tribunicia

  tribunician power, the power held by a Roman tribune to veto laws and protect the plebeians

  Example

  The potestas tribunicia was a key element of the Roman Republic's political system.

Origins of potestas

from Latin 'potestās', meaning 'power, ability'

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Summary: potestas in Brief

'Potestas' [poh-tes-tahs] refers to power, authority, and control, as well as legal rights and permissions. It can be used in various contexts, such as political, religious, and business settings, as in 'The company's CEO has full potestas to make decisions regarding the business.' The term also extends into phrases like 'potestas clavium,' which denotes the power of a priest to forgive sins.