So ‧ mo ‧ za, An ‧ as ‧ ta ‧ si ‧ o /səˈməʊzə, ˌænəˈstɑːsiəʊ/ BrE AmE
(1896–1956) a Nicaraguan solider and politician. Supported by the US, he took control of Nicaragua in the 1930s and ruled as a ↑ dictator until he was killed by political opponents. His son Anastasio Somoza Debayle (1925–80) then took control, and remained in power until he was removed by the ↑ Sandinistas in 1979.