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potestas

Etymology and origin of the Latin word potestas

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Law of the Twelve Tables
Ultimate origin
Latin (potis)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [pɔˈtɛs.taːs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [poˈtɛs.tas][1]

Forms

potestās f (genitive potestātis); third declension[1] Seneca and Pliny the Elder have the genitive plural potestātium.[2]

Etymology

It is from potis “able” with the suffix -tās, continuing Proto-Italic ⟨*potistāts⟩.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is the Law of the Twelve Tables, about 450 BC.[3] The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of the chance to do something.[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant control over persons or things, power, as in Lucretius, and in Cato command of one's faculties.[2] In Cicero it meant an office, magistracy, jurisdiction, and by metonymy a person in authority, a magistrate.[2] From Plautus it meant the power or chance to do something, and in law the right to bring an action; in Cicero the power of choice.[2] In Terence it meant strength, capacity, and the Rhetorica ad Herennium uses it of the meaning or force of a word.[2] Döderlein explains that potentia and potestās are outward power over men, potestās lawful power, while vīs and rōbur are inner strength.[4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant power, authority, jurisdiction, might.[5] Medieval Latin used it for a high public office and an official's district.[6] It survives in Italian potestà, and the Italian podestà, a city magistrate, gave English podesta.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.[3]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of an opportunity.[2][3]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of self-control.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a magistracy.[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. Power, control.[2]
  2. Self-command.[2]
  3. An office, magistracy; jurisdiction; a magistrate.[2]
  4. The power, chance or right (to do something).[2]
  5. Choice, discretion.[2]
  6. Strength, capacity.[2]
  7. The meaning or force (of a word).[2]
  8. (Medieval Latin) An official's district.[6]

Word family

  • potestatiuus

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from potentia, vīs and rōbur.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
Cite this entry

“Potestas.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/potestas. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·