Satrap - Definitions from Dictionary.com

5 results for: Satrap

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

sa·trap

Audio Help [sey-trap, sa-] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	a governor of a province under the ancient Persian monarchy.

2.	a subordinate ruler, often a despotic one.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L satrapa < Gk satrápés < OPers khshathra-pāvan- country-protector

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Satrap

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

sa·trap Audio Help (sā'trāp', sāt'rāp') Pronunciation Key
n.

A governor of a province in ancient Persia.
A ruler.
A subordinate bureaucrat or official: "The satraps of Capitol Hill will not sit idly by" (David Nyhan).

[Middle English satrape, from Old French, from Latin satrapēs, from Greek, from Old Persian khshathrapāvā, protector of the province : khshathra-, realm, province + pāvā, protector; see pā- in Indo-European roots.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
satrap

c.1380, "governor of a province of ancient Persia," from L. satrapes, from Gk. satrapes, from O.Pers. kshathrapavan-, lit. "guardian of the realm," from kshathra- "realm, province" (related to kshayathiya- "king," cognate with Skt. kshatra; cf. shah) + pavan- "guardian," from pa- "to protect."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

satrap
noun
a governor of a province in ancient Persia

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Satrap

Sa"trap\ (? or ?; 277), n. [L. satrapes, Gr. ?, fr. OPers. khshatrap[=a]van ruler: cf. F. satrape.] The governor of a province in ancient Persia; hence, a petty autocrat despot.

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