Despot

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdÉ›s.pÉ’t/, /ˈdÉ›z.pÉ’t/

Origin

From Old French despote, from Medieval Latin despota, from Ancient Greek δεσπότης (despótēs, "lord, master, owner"), from the Proto-Indo-European phrase *déms pótis ("master of the house")

Fortson 2004

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Full definition of despot

Noun

1. A ruler with absolute power; a tyrant.
2. 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)

Derived terms

• despotate
• despotism

Anagrams

• depots
• dopest
• posted