potentate

Meanings

Noun

• A powerful leader; a monarch; a ruler.
• A powerful polity or institution.
• A self-important person.
• Someone acting in an important role.

Adjective

• Regnant, powerful, dominant.

Origin

• From Middle English potentat, from Old French, from Late Latin potentātus, from Latin potēns, the active present participle of possum.