potentate

  • 1Potentate — Po ten*tate, n. [LL. potentatus, fr. potentare to exercise power: cf. F. potentat. See {Potent}, a.] One who is potent; one who possesses great power or sway; a prince, sovereign, or monarch. [1913 Webster] The blessed and only potentate. 1 Tim.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2potentate — c.1400, from L.L. potentatus a ruler, also political power, from L. potentatus power, dominion, from potentem (nom. potens) powerful (see POTENT (Cf. potent)) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 3potentate — [n] monarch autocrat, chief, chieftain, crowned head, despot, dictator, emperor, empress, head of state, king, leader, majesty, prince, princess, queen, royalty, ruler, sovereign; concepts 354,422 …

    New thesaurus

  • 4potentate — ► NOUN ▪ a monarch or ruler. ORIGIN Latin potentatus dominion …

    English terms dictionary

  • 5potentate — [pōt′ n tāt΄] n. [ME potentat < LL potentatus < LL(Ec), power, rule < L potens: see POTENT] a person having great power; ruler; monarch …

    English World dictionary

  • 6Potentate — A potentate (from the Latin potens , powerful ) is an informal term for a person with potent, usually supreme, power.The term was used by the Christian Church to describe God. One example of this use is in the hymn Crown him with many crowns in… …

    Wikipedia

  • 7potentate — UK [ˈpəʊt(ə)nteɪt] / US [ˈpoʊt(ə)nˌteɪt] noun [countable] Word forms potentate : singular potentate plural potentates formal a king or other powerful man who has a lot of authority and influence …

    English dictionary

  • 8potentate — /poht n tayt /, n. a person who possesses great power, as a sovereign, monarch, or ruler. [1350 1400; ME < LL potentatus potentate, L: power, dominion. See POTENT1, ATE3] * * * …

    Universalium

  • 9potentate — [[t]po͟ʊt(ə)nteɪt[/t]] potentates N COUNT A potentate is a ruler who has complete power over his people. [FORMAL] Syn: autocrat …

    English dictionary

  • 10potentate — po•ten•tate [[t]ˈpoʊt nˌteɪt[/t]] n. a person who possesses great power, as a sovereign, monarch, or ruler • Etymology: 1350–1400; ME &LT; LL potentātus potentate, L: power, dominion. See potent I, ate III …

    From formal English to slang