Where does “autocrat” come from?
Autocrat comes from French autocrate, derived from Ancient Greek αὐτοκρατής, combining αὐτό- and αὐτός meaning self, with the root indicating absolute power or rule.
autocrat (English): An absolute ruler with infinite power; A title...
Definitions
- An absolute ruler with infinite power; A title...
Ancestry of “autocrat”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | autocrate | autocrat |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | αὐτοκρατής | one who governs alone; sovereign |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | αὐτο- | self- |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | αὐτός | αὐτή f, αὐτό n; "first/second declension";... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ew | away from, off; again |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰe | Postpositional intensifying particle: indeed, at any rate, in fact |