What's the difference between despot and tyrant?

Answer 1

They are almost synonymous. In ancient Greek a tyrannus was a monarch that did not take the throne through heredity. Thus, Oedipus Rex, the play, was originally Oedipus Tyrannus (though there is tremendous irony in that). I think tyrant is more connotatively evil than a despot, though both are absolute rulers. Also I would say that connotatively despot is used for military absolute rulers--like castro--where tyrants may not be associated with military coups--as chavez is becoming. That's my best guess.

Answer 2

Main Entry: ty·rant
Pronunciation: 'tI-r&nt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English tirant, from Old French tyran, tyrant, from Latin tyrannus, from Greek tyrannos
1 a : an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution b : a usurper of sovereignty
2 a : a ruler who exercises absolute power oppressively or brutally b : one resembling an oppressive ruler in the harsh use of authority or power

Main Entry: des·pot
Pronunciation: 'des-p&t, -"pät
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French despote, from Greek despotEs master, lord, autocrat, from des- (akin to domos house) + -potEs (akin to posis husband); akin to Sanskrit dampati lord of the house -- more at DOME, POTENT
1 a : a Byzantine emperor or prince b : a bishop or patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church c : an Italian hereditary prince or military leader during the Renaissance
2 a : a ruler with absolute power and authority b : a person exercising power tyrannically

It's very like geometry - a square is a rectangle, but a rectangle may or may not be a square. In the same way a tyrant is likely a despot, but a despot is not necessarily a tyrant.

Answer 3

Despot Pronunciation

Answer 4

Someone will always find a difference:
"A TRUE king is one who observes the laws of nature as punctiliously as he wishes his subjects to observe his own laws, thereby securing to them their liberty, and the enjoyment of their own property. I have added these last qualifications in order to distinguish kingship from despotism. A despot can be a just and virtuous prince, and an equitable governor of his people, but he is the master of their persons and their goods. If a despot who has overcome his enemies in a just war, restores to them their liberty, and permits them to dispose of themselves and their possessions as they wish, he ceases to be a despot and becomes a king. ..."

Answer 5

The spelling.

Really. Semantically there's no difference.

Answer 6

pronunciation, spelling, and how the sentence sound.