despot

Meanings

Plural: despots

Noun

a cruel and oppressive dictator
A ruler with absolute power; a tyrant.
A title awarded to senior members of the imperial family in the late Byzantine Empire, and claimed by various independent or semi-autonomous rulers in the Balkans (12th to 15th centuries)

Origin / Etymology

From Middle French despote, from Old French despote, from Medieval Latin despota, from Ancient Greek δεσπότης (despótēs, “lord, master, owner”). Cognate with Sanskrit दम्पति (dámpati).

Synonyms

autocrat, tyrant

Scrabble Score: 9

despot is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
despot is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
despot is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

despot is a valid Words With Friends word