satrap
Americannoun
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a governor of a province under the ancient Persian monarchy.
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a subordinate ruler, often a despotic one.
noun
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(in ancient Persia) a provincial governor
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a subordinate ruler, esp a despotic one
Etymology
Origin of satrap
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin satrapa < Greek satrápēs < Old Persian khshathra-pāvan- country-protector
Explanation
A governor of an ancient Persian province was called a satrap. These areas ruled by satraps were called "satrapies." The Persian emperor Cyrus the Great first chose satraps to rule individual provinces, around 530 BCE. Each satrap controlled a specific amount of land, collecting taxes and maintaining law and order. The word satrap continued to be used in various places, including India and East Asia, to refer to local rulers. The word comes from the Latin satrapes, with the Old Persian root xšathrapavan, "guardian of the realm," from xšathra-, "realm," and pavan-, "guardian."
Vocabulary lists containing satrap
Mesopotamia - Introductory
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Mesopotamia - Middle School and High School
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Chapter 7: The Ancient Greeks
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Each satrapy was administered by a royal governor called a satrap, usually a trusted Persian or Median noble.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
With Akhmad gone, Putin had a vacancy for a Chechen satrap, and Ramzan was perfect for the role.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 23, 2015
Atta Mohammad Noor, a former warlord, is the immensely wealthy satrap of Balkh province in the north.
From Economist ● Jul. 10, 2014
This had been "sequestered" by the province's former satrap, General Chen Chi-tang, who had majestically taken "flight" to British Hongkong with his movable treasures.
From Time Magazine Archive
In that year Darius was fighting in Media against Phraortes, Aryandes was satrap in the year 512 B.C. and long after.
From The History of Antiquity Vol. VI. (vol. VI. of VI.) by Max Duncker
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
