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despotism

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despotism


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Despotism  \Des"po*tism\,  n.  [Cf.  F.  despotisme.] 
  1.  The  power,  spirit,  or  principles  of  a  despot;  absolute 
  control  over  others  tyrannical  sway;  tyranny.  ``The 
  despotism  of  vice.''  --Byron. 
 
  2.  A  government  which  is  directed  by  a  despot;  a  despotic 
  monarchy;  absolutism;  autocracy. 
 
  Despotism  .  .  .  is  the  only  form  of  government  which 
  may  with  safety  to  itself  neglect  the  education  of 
  its  infant  poor.  --Bp.  Horsley. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  despotism 
  n  1:  dominance  through  threat  of  punishment  and  violence  [syn:  {absolutism}, 
  {tyranny}] 
  2:  a  form  of  government  in  which  the  ruler  is  an  absolute 
  dictator  (not  restricted  by  a  constitution  or  laws  or 
  opposition  etc.)  [syn:  {dictatorship},  {absolutism},  {authoritarianism}, 
  {Caesarism},  {monocracy},  {one-man  rule},  {shogunate},  {Stalinism}, 
  {totalitarianism},  {tyranny}] 




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