— tetrarchy, tetrarchate /te"trahr kayt', -kit, tee"-/ , n. — tetrarchic /te trahr"kik, ti-/ , tetrarchical , adj.
/te"trahrk, tee"-/ , n.
1. any ruler of a fourth part, division, etc.
2. a subordinate ruler.
3. one of four joint rulers or chiefs.
4. the ruler of the fourth part of a country or province in the ancient Roman Empire.
[ 1350-1400; ME, tetrarcha, tetrarke tetrarcha, var. of L tetrarches tetrárches. See TETR-, -ARCH ]