Potestas

Lat In the civil law. Power; authority; domination ; empire. Imperium or the jurisdiction of magistrates. The power of the father over his children, patria potestas. The authority of masters over their slaves. See Inst 1, 9, 12; Dig. 2, 1, 13, 1; Id., 14, 1; Id. 14, 4, 1, 4.