potentacyn.

1576 A. Fleming tr. Erasmus in Panoplie Epist. 357 The usurping potentacie, and outragious rule of thundering Tyraunts.

1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus (new ed.) 62 And for the same cause Aloysius kinge of the Placentines, Rodericus king of Spain, Appius Claudius, & many others, haue bene deraigned of their potentacies.

1649 Def. Stage-plays 4 Onely endeavouring to discharge my conscience, which is a thing I shall alwayes do, without fearing any man, any arm of flesh, any Potentacie, Prelacy, superintendency, or power terrestiall or internall.

1681 Whole Duty of Nations 14 Their Interests..are preserved and kept distinct, as these are often allowed to be under some conquering Potentacy.

1701 T. Beverley Praise of Glory 48 That, in which the Supreme, the Infinite Wisdom, Holiness, Dominion, Potentacy, hath placed its Glory.

1715 E. Waple Bk. Revelation Paraphras'd xiii. 289 The whole Body of the Ecclesiasticks, under the Potentacy of the Ruling Clergy.

1916 Atlanta (Georgia) Constit. 13 Feb. 10 a/5 The pilgrimage of nobles of the Shrine and their ladies to Buffalo, which is the big event of the potentacy of Mr Stevens, gives promise of being the greatest in the history of Shrinedom.

1964 Reno (Nevada) Evening Gaz. 1 Apr. What is needed to help the poor is not a ‘war’ that antagonizes or revolutionizes or sets up a potentacy which some day may be filled by a lesser man than Shriver.