potentate
noun
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Potentate has been wielding its power in English since the 15th century. It comes from the Late Latin potentatus, which in turn was formed from the Latin potent-, meaning "powerful." Other descendants of potent- in English include potent itself, impotent, and omnipotent, as well as the archaic armipotent and very rare bellipotent (meaning, respectively, "mighty in battle" and "mighty in war"). Even power and powerful can be traced back to potent-.
Examples of potentate in a Sentence
Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 July 2024
By cracking the whip on local potentates, the party bolsters its already substantial public support and reinforces the power of central institutions.
—Dali Yang, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2017
This was a violin in full command of its considerable powers, a violin capable of enchanting the most powerful potentate in the land and persuading him to do its bidding.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024
This must remain a country that rejects princes or potentates.
—Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for potentate 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'potentate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Potentate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potentate. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.
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potentate
noun
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