despotic

WOTD – 16 March 2009    

English

Alternative forms

• despotick

Etymology

From Ancient Greek δεσποτικός (despotikos) via French despotique.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /dɛsˈpɒt.ɪk/, /dəˈspɒt.ɪk/ X-SAMPA: dEs"pQt.Ik/
• (US) IPA: /dɛsˈpɑt.ɪk/ X-SAMPA: dEs"pAt.Ik/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɒtɪk

Adjective

despotic (comparative more despotic, superlative most despotic)

1. Of or pertaining to a despot or tyrant.

   This despotic age of the empire ended in a revolt.

2. Acting or ruling as a despot, tyrannical.

   The despotic king dissolved the parliament, and took personal control of the country.

Synonyms

• (acting or ruling as a despot): domineering, tyrannical

Related terms

despot despotate despotical despotically

despotism despotist despotize

Translations

of or pertaining to a despot

• Bulgarian: деспотичен (bg) (despotičen)
• Czech: despotický (cs)
• Danish: despotisk (da)
• Esperanto: despota (eo)
• Finnish: itsevaltainen (fi), despoottinen (fi)
• German: despotisch (de)

• Hungarian: zsarnoki (hu)
• Romanian: despotic (ro) m and n
• Russian: деспотический (ru) (despotičeskij)
• Scottish Gaelic: aintighearnail (gd)
• Spanish: despótico (es)

acting or ruling as a despot

• Bulgarian: деспотичен (bg) (despotičen)
• Czech: despotický (cs)
• Danish: despotisk (da)
• Finnish: itsevaltainen (fi), despoottinen (fi)

• German: despotisch (de)
• Russian: деспотичный (ru) (despotičnyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: aintighearnail (gd)