despot

[des-puh t, -pot]

noun

a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power; autocrat.
any tyrant or oppressor.
History/Historical. an honorary title applied to a Byzantine emperor, afterward to members of his family, and later to Byzantine vassal rulers and governors.

Origin of despot

1555–65; < Greek despótēs master < *dems-pot- presumably, “master of the house,” equivalent to *dems-, akin to dómos house + pot-, base of pósis husband, spouse; cf. hospodar, host¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for despots

oppressor, autocrat, tyrant, Hitler, monocrat

Examples from the Web for despots

Contemporary Examples of despots

The Castros are the latest in a long line of despots he believed he could negotiate with.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro
Doug McIntyre
December 24, 2014
These affinities are arguably at the heart of the 40-year dalliance of Iranian and Syrian despots.
Iranian Clerics About to Fall?
Abbas Milani
September 13, 2011
As the trial continues, one thing is certain: Both the despots and ordinary people will be watching closely.
How to Try a Dictator
Babak Dehghanpisheh
August 4, 2011
The children of despots often hasten their fathers' downfall.
Dictators' Sons, From Egypt to Libya, Are Doomed
Stephen Kinzer
February 9, 2011
True, there are some Muslims who are fascist, but why blame Islam for the tyranny of despots?
Why the Mosque Scares the Right
M.J. Akbar
August 14, 2010

Historical Examples of despots

When Pausanias remarks that personal attachments are inimical to despots.
Symposium
Plato
His thwarted desires of yesterday were the despots of his wits.
The Sea-Hawk
Raphael Sabatini
Like all favorites of despots, he had power to abuse, and abused it.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, August 1930
Various
The dear despots of the fireside have a weakness for lawless characters.
Notes on Life and Letters
Joseph Conrad
The Norwegian men must be despots, tyrants, actual Heathens and Turks!
Strife and Peace
Fredrika Bremer

British Dictionary definitions for despots

despot

noun

an absolute or tyrannical ruler; autocrat or tyrant
any person in power who acts tyrannically
a title borne by numerous persons of rank in the later Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empiresthe despot of Servia

Derived Formsdespotic (dɛsˈpɒtɪk) or despotical, adjectivedespotically, adverb

Word Origin for despot

C16: from Medieval Latin despota, from Greek despotēs lord, master; related to Latin domus house

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for despots

despot

1560s, "absolute ruler," from Old French despot (14c.), from Medieval Latin despota, from Greek despotes "master of a household, lord, absolute ruler," from PIE *dems-pota-; for first element see domestic (adj.); second element cognate with Latin potis, potens (see potent).

Faintly pejorative in Greek, progressively more so as used in various languages for Roman emperors, Christian rulers of Ottoman provinces, and Louis XVI during the French Revolution. The female equivalent was despoina "lady, queen, mistress," source of the proper name Despina.