satrap

From Middle English satrape, from Latin satrapēs (“governor”), from Ancient Greek σατράπης (satrápēs), from Old Median *xšaθrapāwan- (literally “kingdom-protector”),^[1] which is cognate with Old Persian 𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎱𐎠𐎺𐎠 (xšaçapāvā); see there for more.

• IPA^(key): /ˈseɪtɹæp/
• IPA^(key): /ˈsæt.ræp/

satrap (plural satraps)

1. (historical) A governor of a Persian province.
   • 1922, Maneckji Nusservanji Dhalla, Zoroastrian Civilization‎^[1], page 222:

     Eunuchs were chiefly employed in the harems of the king, and his satraps.

2. (figurative, derogatory) A subordinate ruler.
   • 2001, Salman Rushdie, Fury: A Novel, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 4:

     Hey, sir? Sir, excuse me?” The blonde was calling out to him, in imperious tones that insisted on a reply. Her satraps became watchful, like a Praetorian guard.

   • 2022 February 19, Andrew Higgins, “Once He Kept Russia at a Distance. Now He Is a Docile Putin Satrap.”, in The New York Times‎^[2], →ISSN:

     Backed by an expansive and brutal security system, Mr. Lukashenko shows no sign of losing his grip at home, if at the cost of becoming Mr. Putin’s enfeebled satrap.

• satrapy
• satrapal

• kshatriya

• sarpat, aspart, raps at, Sparta, Pratas, Patras

Borrowed from French satrape, from Latin satrapes.

satrap m (plural satrapi)

1. satrap

From Latin satrapēs (“governor”), from Ancient Greek σατράπης (satrápēs), from Old Persian 𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎱𐎠𐎺𐎠 (xšaçapāvā, “protector of the province”).

• IPA^(key): /sǎtrap/
• Hyphenation: sat‧rap

sàtrap m inan (Cyrillic spelling са̀трап)

1. satrap