Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Potestative, adj. [e.m.E. befitting a ‘potestate’, having power or authority, authoritative (1630), of a condition (as below) (1652), F. potestatif (16th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), late L. potestatīv-us ‘denoting or containing power’.] That is within the power or control of the party concerned; that is possible or legally allowable to him. — 1671 McWard True Nonconf. 328.
If we did hold faith as it is our act to be required as a proper potestative foregoing condition of our acceptance Id. Serm. 12.
As also the power of conveying a license to preach, or the potestative mission to the ministerial function … belong only to church officers in their … synodical meetings 1696 M.P. Brown Suppl. Decis. IV 343.
They found, that their being potestative heirs designative was enough without a retour, it being provided to them qua bairns and children