/aw"teuh krat'/ , n.
1. an absolute ruler, esp. a monarch who holds and exercises the powers of government as by inherent right, not subject to restrictions.
2. a person invested with or claiming to exercise absolute authority.
3. a person who behaves in an authoritarian manner; a domineering person.
[ 1795-1805; autokratés self-ruling, ruling alone, equiv. to auto- AUTO- 1 + krat- (s. of krátos power) + -es adj. suffix ]