δεσπότης, -ου, ὁ

[in LXX chiefly for אָדוֹן, אֲדֹנָי; in Jdth.9:17, δ. τ. οὐρανῶν κ. τ. γῆς];

a master, lord, correlative of δοῦλος, οἰκέτης: 1Ti.6:1, 2, 2Ti.2:21, Tit.2:9, 1Pe.2:18; as title of God, voc. δέσποτα (so usually in LXX), Luk.2:29, Act.4:24; ὁ δ. = voc. δέσποτα (cf. B1. § 33, 4), Rev.6:10; of Christ, 2Pe.2:1, Ju 4, R, txt. (but cf. mg.).†

SYN.: κύριος (which see), implying limitation of authority and a more general relation than δ. which "denoted absolute ownership and uncontrolled power" (Thayer). (AS)

a master, lord