AU'TOCRATRIX, noun A female sovereign, who is independent and absolute; a title given to the Empresses of Russia. 1. In the Romish church, a solemn day held by the Inquisition, for the punishment of heretics, and the absolution of the innocent accused. 2. A sentence given by the Inquisition, and road to a criminal, or heretic, on the scaffold, just before he is executed. 3. The session of the court of inquisition.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI