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despotism
despotism government by an absolute ruler unchecked by effective constitutional limits to his power. In Greek usage, a despot was ruler of a household and master of its slaves. The title was applied to gods and, by derivation, to the quasi-divine rulers of the Middle East. In the Byzantine Empire, despot was a title of honor of the emperors and their relatives and of vassal princes of the tributary states and dignitaries of the Eastern Church. The Ottoman Empire perpetuated the term as applied to church officials and territorial princes. The 18th-century doctrine of the Enlightenment influenced such absolutist rulers as Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine II of Russia, and Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II toward a rule of beneficent intent known as benevolent despotism. However, despot is now a term of opprobrium.
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"despotism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "despotism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-despotis.html "despotism." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-despotis.html |
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despot
des·pot / ˈdespət/ • n. a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way. DERIVATIVES: des·pot·ic / diˈspätik/ adj. des·pot·i·cal·ly / diˈspätik(ə)lē/ adv. ORIGIN: mid 16th cent.: from French despote, via medieval Latin from Greek despotēs ‘master, absolute ruler.’ Originally (after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople) the term denoted a petty Christian ruler under the Turkish empire. The current sense dates from the late 18th cent. |
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"despot." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "despot." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-despot.html "despot." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-despot.html |
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despot
despot lord, prince, ruler XVI; absolute ruler, tyrant XVIII. — F. despote, earlier †despot — medL. despota — Gr. despótēs master, lord.
So despotic XVII, despotism XVIII. |
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T. F. HOAD. "despot." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "despot." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-despot.html T. F. HOAD. "despot." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-despot.html |
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despotism
despotism See ABSOLUTISM.
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GORDON MARSHALL. "despotism." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. GORDON MARSHALL. "despotism." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-despotism.html GORDON MARSHALL. "despotism." A Dictionary of Sociology. 1998. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-despotism.html |
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despot
despot
•cannot • slip knot • forget-me-not
•touch-me-not • topknot • whatnot
•crackpot, jackpot
•blackspot • dashpot • sexpot • despot
•fleshpot • teapot • stinkpot • tinpot
•gallipot, talipot
•chimney pot • nightspot • stockpot
•tosspot • hotspot • hotpot • stewpot
•fusspot • sunspot • flowerpot
•pepperpot • lobster pot • tommyrot
•dogtrot, jogtrot
•foxtrot
•slapshot, snapshot
•mailshot • grapeshot • slingshot
•eyeshot • potshot • bloodshot
•mugshot • buckshot • troubleshot
•gunshot • upshot • earshot
•Aldershot • Hottentot • aliquot
•diddly-squat • Ofwat • loquat
•kumquat • somewhat • megawatt
•kilowatt • paraquat • terawatt
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"despot." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "despot." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-despot.html "despot." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-despot.html |
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