satrap

sa·trap  (strp, strp)

n.

1. A governor of a province in ancient Persia.

2. A ruler.

3. A subordinate bureaucrat or official: "The satraps of Capitol Hill will not sit idly by" (David Nyhan).

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[Middle English satrape, from Old French, from Latin satraps, from Greek, from Old Persian khshathrapv, protector of the province : khshathra-, realm, province + pv, protector; see p- in Indo-European roots.]

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satrap [ˈsætrəp]

n

1. (Historical Terms) (in ancient Persia) a provincial governor

2. (Historical Terms) a subordinate ruler, esp a despotic one

[from Latin satrapa, from Greek satrapēs, from Old Persian khshathrapāvan, literally: protector of the land]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

satrap - a governor of a province in ancient Persia governor - the head of a state government