A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Potentate, n. [e.m.E. potentate (a 1548), ME -at (c 1400), L. potentātus (u- stem) power, dominion, late L. a potentate, F. potentat (OF potentat dominion, 14th c. in Hatz.-Darm.).] A person of power, a magnate. = Potestat n. — 1570 Bann. Memor. 24.
Some prince or foren potentate, who … will feid the meamore c1590 Fowler II 92/3.
Before the tyme of Pape Alexander the potentates of Italye, nether others that uer not called by this name, bot the least barron and lord … maid na accont of theme in things temporall a1633 Hope Major Pract. II 5.
No forraigne prince, stait, nor potentate, … ought to have any jurisdictione … within this realme
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"Potentate n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/potentate>
