Middle English Dictionary Entry
potestāt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | potestāt(e n. Also pl. (error) potestantes. |
| Etymology | OF potestat (var. of pöestat) & L potestas, -ātis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A ruler, lord; an individual possessing power or authority, a superior; (b) a dynasty.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 12.11 : Whanne thei schulen leede ȝou in to synagogis and to magestatis and to potestatis [vr. potestatis or powers; L potestates], nyle ȝe be bisy how ether what ȝe schulen answere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3522 : Thogh he were a potestat Of worldes good, he was soubgit To love.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2017 : Whilom ther was an irous potestat.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Tit.3.1 : Warne hem to be sogetes to princys & to potestatys, to ben obedyent to þat þat is y-sayd hem.
- (c1422) Hoccl.JWife (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)68 : The pore & simple folk this potestat Oppressid sore.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.13.2 : He þat ageynstandys þe potestate ageynstandys goddys ordynaunce.
- ?c1430(?1382) Wycl.Pet.Parl.(Corp-C 296)516 : Seynt Poul techiþ þat eche man be sugett to here potestatis, for þer nis no power but of God.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Serv.& L.(Corp-C 296)229 : Eche man owiþ to be suget to heiȝere potestatis, þat is, to men of heiȝe power.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2327 : We sall lett for no lede þat lyffes in erthe, Fore pape ne for potestate ne prynce so noble.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)327 : Þe charge of þe ouerer prelatis is to..devise what counseile may be ȝouun to pryncis and potestatis.
- a1450 Castle Love(1) (BodAdd B.107)1573 : Non so holi ne so good is..Prynce, potestate, ne angell..But he shall dredyn aȝeyne þat dome.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.692 : The emperour..is ryden foorth with his mene vp in to the lond, for causes whiche that hee had for to doo, as potestates haue.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)189 : Ech soule ouȝte obeie and be sugget to the potestatis sette over him.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1630 : The duke that hath the gouernaunce Therof may thinke he is a Potestate, To whom betakyn is the prosperaunce Of al a lond and euerych Estate.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)3 : The Apostil, whan he spekith of potestates, He bereth not his swerd..Withouten cause.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)189/16 : Than I complayned me to the Potestate, the Pope hymself, but I had nothynge ellys but plesaunte words.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.189 : The peple scholde haue certeyne maistres ouer theyme, callede Tribuni, whiche scholde defende theyme ageyne the insolence of potestates.
b
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.261 : The realme of men of Egipte..was coegalle vn to theyme..hauenge xv hye potestates [Trev.: grete lordeschippes, and cleped hem Dynastias] from the firste Mineus other Zones vn to the tymes of Abraham.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.261 : At the laste Diapolitanes, whiche were callede Pharaones, holded xviij hie potestates, and so the realme of men of Egipte durede vn to the times of Cambises, son of Cirus, kynge of Persia.
2.
A member of the sixth order of angels.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Col.1.16 : In hym alle thingis ben maad, in heuenes and in erthe, visyble and invisyble, ether trones, ether domynaciouns, ethir principatis, ether potestates.
- c1390(a1325) Ipotis (Vrn)96 : Þe furste ordre is Cherubin..Þe sixte is Potestates [vr. potestatus].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)16a/a : Þe myddil Ierarchie conteyneþ þese þre ordres: Principatus, Potestates, & Dominaciones.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)16b/a : The sixte ordir is þe ordir of potestates.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)1 Pet.3.22 : He is gon to hefne & haþ y-mad sogettis to hym aungeles and potestates and vertutes.
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)p.214 : Abouen all thynges is to been associed to the conpaignies of the trones, dominacions, Principatz, & potestatz.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)296 : The secounde day in the self manere maden her feste archaungeles: the thridde day vertues: the ferthe day potestates.
- a1450(?c1343) Rolle EDormio (Cmb Dd.5.64)61/21 : Principates, potestates, and dominacions.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)154 : The Potestates myght, ho may be like?..Who hath the light or flamme of Seraphyn?
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)189/21 : The blessid lady..is noȝt onely worschipid aboue patriarches..but also aboue..principates, potestates, [etc.].
- a1500 Craft Dying (Rwl C.894)420 : Holy angels, archangels, trones & dominaciones, princehodes, potestates & vertuis, cherubyn & seraphin met with þe.
- 1600(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2013)3/57 : Nine orders here..we maye see..Cherubyn and Seraphin..and Potestates [vr. Potestantes] in blisfull lighte.