satrap

Where does the word "satrap" come from? It comes from Old Persian khshathrapavan, passing through Greek and Latin before entering English (1400s).

Satrap’s story begins in Old Persian: khshathrapavan meant “a provincial governor.” Literally protector of the province, a governor of the Persian Empire. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Greek as satrapes. Greek historians such as Herodotus described the satrapies of Darius. From there it passed into Latin as satrapes by ancient. Latin and later Romance languages widened it to mean any despotic official serving under a tyrant. It reached English by 1400s as satrap. Used disparagingly of subordinate rulers in modern times. Today, satrap means a subordinate ruler, or a person granted power by a higher authority.

1. Stage 1 · Old Persian · ancient khshathrapavan "a provincial governor", literally protector of the province, a governor of the Persian Empire.
2. Stage 2 · Greek · ancient satrapes "a provincial governor of ancient Persia", Greek historians such as Herodotus described the satrapies of Darius.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient satrapes "a provincial governor of ancient Persia", Latin and later Romance languages widened it to mean any despotic official serving under a tyrant.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s satrap "a subordinate ruler or governor", used disparagingly of subordinate rulers in modern times.