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Stage 1 of 3
despotes
Greek · ancient
"master, lord"
originally simply master of a household
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Stage 2 of 3
despote
French · medieval
"an absolute ruler"
carried into French as a title, later a tyrant
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Stage 3 of 3
despot
English · 1600s
"a ruler with absolute power, especially a tyrant"
settled as the word for a tyrannical ruler
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