A ruler who holds absolute power and typically exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way. The term implies tyrannical authority without legal or constitutional limits.
From Greek 'despotes,' meaning 'master of a house' or 'absolute ruler.' Originally a neutral term for household authority, it gradually acquired negative connotations as it became associated with unlimited political power and oppression.
Think of 'des-pot' like a 'desperate pot' - a despot is like a pot (container) that desperately wants to contain and control everything! They can't stand anything escaping their absolute control.
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