podesta

noun

po·de·sta ˌpō-də-ˈstä

: a chief magistrate in a medieval Italian municipality

Word History

Etymology

Italian podestà, literally, power, from Latin potestat-, potestas, irregular from potis able — more at potent

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of podesta was in 1553

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Browse Nearby Words

podeon

podesta

podetial

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Podesta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/podesta. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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