despotism

Founding-era definition · Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

DESPOTISM, noun 1. Absolute power; authority unlimited and uncontrolled by men, constitution or laws, and depending alone on the will of the prince; as the despotism of a Turkish sultan. 2. An arbitrary government, as that of Turkey and Persia.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI

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