[a. F. autocrate, ad. Gr. αὐτοκρατής ruling by oneself, absolute, f. αὐτο- (see AUTO-) + κράτος, κράτε- might, power, authority; cf. κρατύς strong, cogn. w. Goth. hardus, Eng. hard.] A monarch of uncontrolled authority; an absolute, irresponsible governor; one who rules with undisputed sway. (Autocrat of all the Russias, a title of the Czar.)
1803. Southey, in Ann. Rev., I. 89. An embassy sent by the Directory, or the Corsican autocrat.
1851. H. Spencer, Soc. Stat., v. § 6. The Russian noble is alike a serf to his autocrat, and an autocrat to his serf.
1853. T. T. Lynch, Self-Improvement, vi. 149. The will is no autocrat to have his bidding done at once, or certainly.
1858. O. W. Holmes (title), The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table.
