autocracy

Autocracy — Au*toc ra*cy, n.; pl. {Autocracies}. [Gr. ?: cf. F. autocratie. See {Autocrat}.] 1. Independent or self derived power; absolute or controlling authority; supremacy. [1913 Webster] The divine will moves, not by the external impulse or inclination… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

autocracy — 1650s, independent power, self sustained power, from Fr. autocratie, from Gk. autokrateia ruling by oneself, noun of state from autokrates (see AUTOCRAT (Cf. autocrat)). Meaning absolute government, supreme political power is recorded from 1855 …   Etymology dictionary

autocracy — [n] government by one absolutism, czarism, despotism, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, oppression, totalitarian government, tyranny; concepts 354,691 Ant. democracy …   New thesaurus

autocracy — ► NOUN (pl. autocracies) 1) a system of government by one person with absolute power. 2) a state governed in this way. ORIGIN from Greek autos self + kratos power …   English terms dictionary

autocracy — [ô tä′krə sē] n. [Gr autokrateia, absolute power: see AUTO & CRACY] 1. government in which one person has absolute power; dictatorship; despotism 2. pl. autocracies a country with this kind of government 3. unlimited power or authority of one… …   English World dictionary

Autocracy — An autocracy is a form of government in which the political power is held by a single self appointed ruler. The term autocrat is derived from the Greek word autokratōr αυτοκράτωρ (lit. self ruler , or he who rules by one s self ). Compare with… …   Wikipedia

autocracy — [[t]ɔːtɒ̱krəsi[/t]] autocracies 1) N UNCOUNT Autocracy is government or control by one person who has complete power. Many poor countries are abandoning autocracy. 2) N COUNT An autocracy is a country or organization that is ruled by one person… …   English dictionary

autocracy — UK [ɔːˈtɒkrəsɪ] / US [ɔˈtɑkrəsɪ] noun Word forms autocracy : singular autocracy plural autocracies 1) [uncountable] a form of government or management in which one person has complete power 2) [countable] a country or organization that is… …   English dictionary

autocracy — noun (plural cies) Date: 1655 1. the authority or rule of an autocrat 2. government in which one person possesses unlimited power 3. a community or state governed by autocracy …   New Collegiate Dictionary

autocracy — A regime in which power is concentrated in the person of a single individual as, for example, in the case of ‘the Stalinist autocracy’. The term is thus loosely applied, and will be found in discussions of a variety of state structures and… …   Dictionary of sociology

autocracy — /aw tok reuh see/, n., pl. autocracies. 1. government in which one person has uncontrolled or unlimited authority over others; the government or power of an absolute monarch. 2. a nation, state, or community ruled by an autocrat. 3. unlimited… …   Universalium