Corregidor

/kɔ.reɪˈhiː.dɔr/ noun

Definition

A high-ranking Spanish colonial official or magistrate who governed a district or town; the chief administrator of a town in Spain or Spanish America.

Etymology

From Spanish 'corregidor,' derived from 'corregir' (to correct/govern), literally meaning 'one who corrects/governs,' originating in medieval Spanish administrative structures.

Kelly Says

Corregidors ran Spanish colonies with nearly absolute power—the title literally means 'corrector,' implying they had the right to correct everyone else's behavior, a privilege that often corrupted them terribly.

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