des·pot / ˈdespət/ • n. a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.DERIVATIVES: des·pot·ic / diˈspätik/ adj.des·pot·i·cal·ly / diˈspätik(ə)lē/ adv.ORIGIN: mid 16th cent.: from French despote, via medieval Latin from Greek despotēs ‘master, absolute ruler.’ Originally (after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople) the term denoted a petty Christian ruler under the Turkish empire. The current sense dates from the late 18th cent.

despot lord, prince, ruler XVI; absolute ruler, tyrant XVIII. — F. despote, earlier †despot — medL. despota — Gr. despótēs master, lord.
So despotic XVII, despotism XVIII.

despotism See ABSOLUTISM.