δεσπότης, -ου, ὁ
[in LXX chiefly for אָדוֹן, אֲדֹנָי; in Jth 9:17, δ. τ. οὐρανῶν κ. τ. γῆς];
a master, lord, correlative of δοῦλος, οἰκέτης: I Ti 6:1, 2, II Ti 2:21, Tit 2:9, I Pe 2:18; as title of God, voc., δέσποτα (so usually in LXX), Lk 2:29, Ac 4:24; ὁ δ. = voc. δέσποτα (cf. B1., § 33, 4), Re 6:10; of Christ, II Pe 2:1, Ju 4, R, txt. (but cf. mg.).†
SYN.: κύριος (q.v.), implying limitation of authority and a more general relation than δ., which "denoted absolute ownership and uncontrolled power" (Thayer).