Meanings
- historicaluncountableThe legal power and rights of a Roman father over his children and descendants by virtue of his paternity.
It was a condition of the patria potestas that the child should be born in marriage.
1870, William George Smith (ed.), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 3rd American ed., page 7421 more example
The Roman Vestals appear to have been under the patria potestas of the king, and, in repubmlican times, of the Pontifex Maximus, who succeeded to some of the king's functions. But if they were under the patria potestas of the king, they must have been either his wives or daughters.
1890, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 2, page 228
Origin
- Latinpatria potestās
- Englishpatria potestas
From Latin patria potestās.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Latin patria potestās
- patria potestāslegal power and rights of a Roman father
Cite this entry
patria potestas. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/patria%20potestas
“patria potestas.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/patria%20potestas. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “patria potestas,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/patria%20potestas.
Source: patria potestas on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.