Word of the Day - 09/08/25
despot
/'dɛspət/(n.): a cruel and oppressive dictator
The country suffered for decades under the iron fist of the despot.
Word Origin
The word 'despot' originates from the Greek word 'despotes' (δεσπότης), meaning "master of a household" or "lord." This Greek term is a compound of 'des-' (from 'domos', meaning "house") and 'potis' (meaning "master" or "husband"). It passed into Late Latin as 'despotes', then into Old French as 'despote', before entering English in the late 16th century. Initially, it was a neutral term for a ruler or master, but over time, it acquired the connotation of a tyrannical and oppressive ruler.
Words sharing a similar origin, particularly from the 'potis' root meaning "master" or "powerful," include 'potent', 'potential', 'omnipotent', and 'potentate', all related to power or ability. The 'des-' part, from 'domos' (house), also connects to words like 'domestic' and 'domicile'.