desp

The root meanings of the term despótēs (δεσπότης) were those of (1) the head of a family, or père de famille; (2) the master of slaves.

DESPOTISM MELVIN RICHTER 1968

The root meanings of the term despótēs (δεσπότης) were those of (1) the head of a family, or père de famille; (2) the master of slaves.

Dictionary of the History of Ideas 1925

"His ain't what you'd call a desp'rate case," he declared.

The Woman-Haters: a yarn of Eastboro twin-lights Joseph Crosby Lincoln 1907

If you're always lookin 'at human natur' on the dark side, it seems kind o 'desp'rit.

Cape Cod Folks Sarah P. McLean Greene 1895

Dunno ez I ebber handled a barn thet, take it all round, 'haved better er come out fa'rer in my life -- mighty good color an' desp'ut few lugs.

Bricks without Straw A Novel 1880

Dunno ez I ebber handled a barn thet, take it all round, 'haved better er come out fa'rer in my life -- mighty good color an' desp'ut few lugs.

Bricks Without Straw Albion Winegar Tourg��e 1871

Sam called the greengrocer a 'desp'rate willin,' and ordered

The Pickwick Papers Charles Dickens 1841

Sam called the greengrocer a 'desp'rate willin,' and ordered a large bowl of punch -- two circumstances which seemed to raise him very much in the opinion of the selections.

The Pickwick papers 1836

"Now, sir," continued Gaff, "it came into my head that if I took the little gal to her grandfather, he, bein 'as hard as nails, an' desp'rit unforgivin ', would swear I wos tellin' a lie, and refuse to take her in.

Shifting Winds A Tough Yarn 1859

As many others do, I feel as if our country has been reclaimed after suffering eight years of desp ...

Jeff Schweitzer: A Note of Caution 2008