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satrap

 - 3 dictionary results

sa⋅trap

  [sey-trap, sa-]
Use satrap in a Sentence
–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 satrápēs < OPers khshathra-pāvan- country-protector
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To satrap
sa·trap   (sā'trāp', sāt'rāp')   
n.  

  1. A governor of a province in ancient Persia.

  2. A ruler.

  3. 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.]
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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Word Origin & History

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."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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