| 释义 |
potentate, n. (a.)|ˈpəʊtənteɪt|
Also 4–6 potentat.
[ad. L. potentātus (u-stem) power, dominion, in late L. a potentate (whence F. potentat), f. potens potent a.1: see -ate1.]
1. A person endowed with independent power; a prince, monarch, ruler.
c1400Apol. Loll. 30 Til ȝe alon wil be potentats in þe kirk. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. V 81 b, No potentate was more piteous nor lorde more bounteous. 1591Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 136 But Kings and mightiest Potentates must die, For that's the end of humane miserie. 1667Milton P.L. v. 706 All obey'd The wonted signal, and superior voice Of thir great Potentate. 1769Gray Installation Ode 37 High potentates and dames of royal birth. 1867Freeman N.C. I. ii. 39 The mightiest potentate of the East.
2. A powerful city, state, or body; = power 6 b.
1624Capt. Smith Virginia iii. 94 Carthage grew so great a Potentate, that [etc.]. 1719W. Wood Surv. Trade 325 The best Security against any future Designs or Attempts from the French, or any other Potentate. 1855Macaulay Hist. Eng. xviii. IV. 130 Nothing indicated that the East India Company would ever become a great Asiatic potentate.
†B. adj. Powerful, ruling. Obs.
1556J. Heywood Spider & F. lxv. 54 This spider hath vsurpedlie growne To potentate state. 1597A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 50/2 Those mighty and potentat Lordes. 1648S. Fairclough Prisoner's Praises, etc. (1650) 39 Execute..the spirit of mortification upon your potentate and predominate sins. |