POTESTAS

1 definition found

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  POTESTAS, civil law. A Latin word which signifies power; authority; 
  domination; empire. It has several meaning. 1. It signifies imperium, or the 
  jurisdiction of magistrates. 2. The power of the father over his children, 
  patriapotestas. 3. The authority of masters over their slaves, which makes 
  it nearly synonymous with dominium. See Inst. 1, 9, et 12; Dig. 2, 1, 13, 1; 
  Id. 14, 1; Id. 14, 4, 1, 4.