despot

des·pot

noun \ˈdes-pət, -ˌpät\

Definition of DESPOT

1

a : a Byzantine emperor or prince

b : a bishop or patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church

c : an Italian hereditary prince or military leader during the Renaissance

2

a : a ruler with absolute power and authority

b : a person exercising power tyrannically

Examples of DESPOT

1. He was a successful basketball coach, but many people regarded him as a petty despot.
2. The company is run by a benevolent despot.

Origin of DESPOT

Middle French despote, from Greek despotēs master, lord, autocrat, from des- (akin to domos house) + -potēs (akin to posis husband); akin to Sanskrit dampati lord of the house — more at dome, potent

First Known Use: 1585

Related to DESPOT

Synonyms

caesar, dictator, führer (or fuehrer), oppressor, pharaoh, strongman, tyrannizer, tyrant, man on horseback

Related Words

autarch, autocrat, monocrat; authoritarian, Big Brother, paramount, potentate, totalitarian; caudillo, overlord, warlord; boss, captain, chief, dominator, kingpin, leader, master, overlord, ruler; king, lord, monarch, prince, queen, sovereign (also sovran); baron, czar (also tsar or tzar), magnate, mogul, tycoon; disciplinarian, discipliner, enforcer, martinet, taskmaster

Other Foreign Functionary Terms

count, emir, wardrobe, yeoman

Rhymes with DESPOT

respite