[aw-tuh-krat] 
| 1. | an absolute ruler, esp. a monarch who holds and exercises the powers of government as by inherent right, not subject to restrictions. |
| 2. | a person invested with or claiming to exercise absolute authority. |
| 3. | a person who behaves in an authoritarian manner; a domineering person. |
s self-ruling, ruling alone, equiv. to auto- auto- 1 + krat- (s. of krátos power) + -ēs adj. suffix
| au·to·crat (ô'tə-krāt') n.
[French autocrate, from Greek autokratēs, ruling by oneself : auto-, auto- + -kratēs, -crat.] au'to·crat'ic, au'to·crat'i·cal adj., au'to·crat'i·cal·ly adv. |
| Main Entry: | autocrat |
| Part of Speech: | n |
| Definition: | an absolute monarch who rules with unlimited authority; by extension, any person with undisputed authority in a relationship or situation |
| Etymology: | Greek autokrates 'ruling by oneself' |