Definition of autocracy

The word "autocracy" has its roots in the Greek language. The term "autokratos" (αὐτοκράτωρ) is derived from the words "autos" (αὐτός), meaning "self", and "kratos" (κράτος), meaning "power" or "rule". In ancient Greece, an autocrat was a ruler who held absolute power, often inherited or granted through divine right. The term was later adopted into Latin as "autocras", and from there it was borrowed into various European languages. The English word "autocracy" emerged in the 17th century, originally referring to a system of government in which power is held by a single person or family. Today, the term is often used to describe a form of government characterized by centralized power and absolute authority, with little or no limitation or checks on the ruler's authority.