despot

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Etymology

From Middle French despote, from Old French despote, from Medieval Latin despota, from Ancient Greek δεσπότης.

Pronunciation

• (British) IPA: /ˈdɛs.pɒt/, /ˈdɛz.pɒt/
• (America) IPA: /ˈdɛs.pət/

Noun

despot (plural despots)

1. A ruler with absolute power; a tyrant.
2. (historical) A title awarded to senior members of the imperial family in the late Byzantine Empire, and claimed by various independent or semi-autonomous rulers in the Balkans (12th to 15th centuries)

Translations

• French: despote
• German: Despot, Despotin
• Italian: despota
• Portuguese: déspota
• Russian: де́спот
• Spanish: déspota

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