Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1961
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POTESTATER, n. Also potestator, -ur(e), potestaator, pottistatur, pitistatur; potestata, pottersta; erron. prottystatter (Abd. 1940 C. Gavin Hostile Shore x.). [pɔtə′stɑ:tər] In phr. in (one's) potestater, at the height of one's powers, influence, authority, career etc., in a state of full well-being and prosperity, in one's prime (ne.Sc. 1966); in all one's finery, dressed up to the nines. Erron. used in 1958 quot.Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
A person in prosperity and power is said to be “in potestata”.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. xvi.:
Yon's Janet Horn awa' by in full pitistatur. A won'er fat wy she manages tae get sic dress.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 49:
Ye wid be pechin' in nae time. Ye maun min' ye're nae in yer potestatur noo-a-days.Bch. 1929 J. Milne Dreams o Buchan 22:
As lang's he has the will tae daur, A man's nae by his potestater.Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 48. 16:
Whin Goad hadds Creation's ca', (Heeven an Hell in pottersta For da ransomed or condemned).Abd. 1961 Buchan Observer (7 Feb.):
Fin you an' me war' in oor plooin' potestator.
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"Potestater n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/potestater>
