despot

Meaning

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)

Synonyms

tyrant

dictator

autocrat

oppressor

absolute ruler

authoritarian

potentate

bad ruler

mogul

persecutor

totalitarian

influential person

absolute monarch

Translations

Despot

despote

δεσπότης

despota

déspota

déspota

despoot

τύραννος

Gewaltherrscher

dwingeland

autocrate

tiranno

dèspota

tyran

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdɛs.pɒt/

Etymology

Cognate with Sanskrit: दम्पति

In summary

From Middle French despote, from Old French despote, from Medieval Latin despota, from Ancient Greek δεσπότης (despótēs, “lord, master, owner”). Cognate with Sanskrit दम्पति (dámpati).