despotism
English
/ˈdɛspətɪzəm/
noun
Definitions
- government by a singular authority, either a single person or tight-knit group, which rules with absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way.
Etymology
Borrowed from French despotisme affix from English despot.
Origin
English
despot
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- despot English
- despotate English
- despotess English
- despotist English
- despotize English
- despotocracy English
- despotry English
- despotismi Finnish
- Despotie German
- Despotismus German
- despotisme French
- деспотизм Russian
- δεσποτία Greek (modern)
- despote Middle French