/des"peuht, -pot/ , n.
1. a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power; autocrat.
2. any tyrant or oppressor.
3. Hist. an honorary title applied to a Byzantine emperor, afterward to members of his family, and later to Byzantine vassal rulers and governors.
[ 1555-65; despótes master dems-pot- presumably, "master of the house," equiv. to * dems-, akin to dómos house + pot-, base of pósis husband, spouse; cf. HOSPODAR, HOST 1 ]