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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.

Potestat, n. Also: -ate. [ME and e.m.E. potestat(e (Wyclif, Chaucer), L. potestās, -āt-, OF potestat, It. podestà.]

1. A person having power or authority over others; a prince, ruler, magnate, magistrate. = Potentate n. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1575 (Bann.).
A prince, or empriour, A potestat, or ȝit a king … Quhilk suld be walkryfe gyd … Of his peple c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxii (O.U.P.) 18.
One to the ded gois all estatis, Princis, prelotis and potestatis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 564.
Princis nor potestattis 1549 Compl. 45/32.
The riche and opulent potestatis that dueillis in citeis and burroustounis reputis vs that ar scheiphirdis to be ignorant Ib. 125/14.
Thir potestatis and men of stait that dois extorsions to the pure pepil c1552 Lynd. Mon. 382. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 412.
Vngodlie jugis for solistatioun Of potestatis with wrang nerratioun 1562-3 Winȝet I 23/23.
Be the help of it … the office of all potestatis is lycht [etc.] 1597 Bk. Rates 1.
His maiestie is a frie prince … haueand als grit liberteis … as ony vther king prince or potestat quhatsumeuir

2. A spiritual power.Cf. L. potestas in this sense in the Vulgate (Eph. vi 12, 1 Pet. iii 22). 1490 Irland Mir. II 38/5.
Quhat dampnage … thow did to ws and to the infernal potestatis ?a 1510 Mod. Lang. Notes XXIV 111/1.
Hayle! Patryarkes pleye, hayle! Potestates plesaunce c1520-c1535 Nisbet 1 Peter iii 22.
He yede in to heuen and angels potestatis [Wy., P. and powers; L. et potestatibus] and virtues ar made subiectis to Him 1553 Knox III 355. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 862.
The maisteris seuin … randerit thankis to potestatis diuine That [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II 23/3.
Nocht the eldaris, nocht the potestatis, nocht the angelis, nocht the archangelis

b. In angelology, a member of the sixth order of angels. 1494 Loutfut MS. 143 a.
Jaspis … is liknyt to the potestatis. This ordour is … full of luf c1515 Asl. MS. I 299/31.
The ix ordouris angell [etc.] … potestates virtutes cherubin & seraphin c1500-c1512 Dunb. i (O.U.P.) 10.
Archangellis [etc.] … Tronis potestatis and marteiris seir 1528 Lynd. Dreme 529.

3. The Podestà (OItal. podestate) or chief magistrate (of Florence). 1456 Hay I 208/19.
Gif the king has na were opin agaynis thame, he suld first wryte to the potestate of Florence, and tell him the cas

4. Power, authority, dominion. 1535 Stewart 3730.
Trowand thairof that no man dar speik ill, Becaus he is ane prince of potestate [: wait (= know)]