tetrarch

American  

[te-trahrk, tee-] / ˈtɛ trɑrk, ˈti- /

noun

1. any ruler of a fourth part, division, etc.

2. a subordinate ruler.

3. one of four joint rulers or chiefs.

4. the ruler of the fourth part of a country or province in the ancient Roman Empire.

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tetrarch British  

/ -kɪt, tɛˈtrɑːˌkeɪt, ˈtɛtrɑːk /

noun

1. the ruler of one fourth of a country

2. a subordinate ruler, esp of Syria under the Roman Empire

3. the commander of one of the smaller subdivisions of a Macedonian phalanx

4. any of four joint rulers

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Other Word Forms

• tetrarchate noun
• tetrarchic adjective
• tetrarchical adjective
• tetrarchy noun

Etymology

Origin of tetrarch

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, tetrarcha, tetrarke, from Late Latin tetrarcha, variant of Latin tetrarchēs, from Greek tetrárchēs; see tetr-, -arch

Example Sentences

While there was no formal geographic division of leadership, each emperor or tetrarch had his own sphere of influence.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

The husky-voiced German tenor Gerhard A. Siegel was almost endearing as Herod, the tetrarch of Judea, Herodias’s husband, who is nearly undone by his yearning for his stepdaughter.

From New York Times • Mar. 2, 2014

Con O'Neill as the roaring, bisexual tetrarch is not afraid to out-Herod Herod.

From The Guardian • Jun. 24, 2010

It was from my brother-in-law, Herod Antipas, who is tetrarch of Galilee.

From Saul of Tarsus A Tale of the Early Christians by Miller, Elizabeth

The tetrarch, at anyrate, was plunged into grief by her request; it more than did away with the pleasure of her disgraceful dance; it was a bitter termination of his birthday feast.

From Oscar Wilde by Ingleby, Leonard Cresswell