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podesta

[poh-des-tuh, poh-duh-stah]

noun

any of certain magistrates in Italy, as a chief magistrate in medieval towns and republics.

a person appointed to serve as mayor of an Italian city during the Fascist regime.

Origin:
1540–50; < Italian podestà power < Latin potestās power, command

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Podesta is always a great word to know.

So is callithumpian. Does it mean:

an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

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Collins

World English Dictionary

podesta (pɒˈdɛstə, Italian podeˈsta)

—n
1.	(in modern Italy) a subordinate magistrate in some towns
2.	(in Fascist Italy) the chief magistrate of a commune
3.	in medieval Italy
	a. any of the governors of the Lombard cities appointed by Frederick Barbarossa
	b. a chief magistrate in any of various republics, such as Florence

[C16: from Italian: power, from Latin potestās ability, power, from posse to be able]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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podesta

po·des·ta