Where does “despote” come from?

despote (Old French) comes from Medieval Latin despota, from Ancient Greek δεσπότης, from Proto-Hellenic *déspotis.

Ancestry of “despote”, step by step

Step	Language	Word	Meaning
1	Medieval Latin	despota	—
2	Ancient Greek	δεσπότης	master, lord; ruler, despot; generally: owner
3	Proto-Hellenic	*déspotis	—

despote — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer