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despotic

 - 2 dictionary results

des⋅pot⋅ic

  [di-spot-ik]
Use despotic in a Sentence
–adjective
of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a despot or despotism; autocratic; tyrannical.
Also, des⋅pot⋅i⋅cal.

Origin:
1640–50; < F despotique < Gk despotikós. See despot, -ic

Related forms:
des⋅pot⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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des·pot   (děs'pət)   
n.  

  1. A ruler with absolute power.

  2. A person who wields power oppressively; a tyrant.

    1. A Byzantine emperor or prince.

    2. An Eastern Orthodox bishop or patriarch.


[French despote, from Medieval Latin despota, from Greek despotēs, master; see dem- in Indo-European roots.]
des·pot'ic (dĭ-spŏt'ĭk) adj., des·pot'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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