Lat in the civil law. Power; authority; domination; empire. Impcrium, or the jurisdiction of magistrates. The power of the father over his children, patria potestas. The authority of masters over their slaves. See InsL 1, 9, 12; Dig. 2, 1, 13,1; Id., 14, 1; Id. 14, 4, 1, 4
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
