δεσπότης

English (LSJ)

ου, ὁ; voc. δέσποτᾰ: Ion. acc.

   A δεσπότεα Hdt.1.91, al., Luc.Syr.D.25:—master, lord, prop. the master of the house, δόμων A.Eu.60, etc.; ὄμμα γὰρ δόμων νομίζω δεσπότου παρουσίαν Id.Pers.169: pl., of a family, Id.Ag.32, Ch.53, 82(lyr.); in respect of slaves, Pl.Prm.133d; δοῦλοι καὶ δ. οὐκ ἄν ποτε γένοιντο φίλοι Id.Lg. 757a, etc.; δ. καὶ δοῦλος Arist.Pol.1253b6, cf. 1278b35; ὦ δέσποτ' ἄναξ Ar.Pax90 (anap.); ὦναξ δέσποτα ib.389, Fr.598; δέσποτ' ἄναξ Men. 312.5.    2 despot, absolute ruler, Hdt.3.89, Th.6.77; τύραννος καὶ δ. Pl.Lg.859a; of the Roman Emperors, Ph.2.568, D.C.55.12, Hdn.1.6.4; γᾶς καὶ θαλάσσας δ. IG12(2).216 (Mytilene).    3 of the gods, S.Fr.535, E.Hipp.88, Ar.V.875, X.An.3.2.13.    4 dominant planet, Vett. Val.5.16.    II generally, master, lord, owner, κώμου, ναῶν, Pi.O.6.18, P.4.207; μαντευμάτων A.Th.27; τῶν Ἡρακλείων ὅπλων S.Ph.262; ἑπτὰ δεσποτῶν, of the seven Chiefs against Thebes, E.Supp.636; τοῦ ὄρτυγος Poll.9.108.—Not in Hom. (for metrical reasons), though he uses δέσποινα in Od. (Prob. for δεμσποτ- 'lord of the house', cf. δόμος.)