patria potestas

noun

pa·tria po·tes·tas | \ ¦pä‧trēəpōˈteˌstäs\

Definition of patria potestas

: the power of the head of a Roman family over his wife, children, agnatic descendants, slaves, and freedmen including originally the right to punish by death and always embracing complete control over the limited personal and private rights and duties of all members of the family — compare paterfamilias

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