tsars

Noun

tsar (plural tsars or (rare) tsari)

1. (historical) An emperor of Russia (1547 to 1917) and of some South Slavic states.
   • [W]hy, in the name of common sense, should the English call the Czar (tsar) of Russia razc?1832 August 1, W. Barnes, “On the Origin of Language”, in Gentleman's Magazine, London, page 129
2. (figuratively) A person with great power; an autocrat.
   • Chin Chien-shih, an old poor peasant of Korean nationality, said: "The wolfish ambition of the new tsars is exactly the same as that of the old tsars. The Soviet revisionist renegade clique is struggling desperately in the hope of saving itself from doom, but this will only bring on its destruction...1969 March 14 [1969 March 13], “Report from Border Areas”, in Daily Report: Foreign Radio Broadcasts, number 50, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, sourced from Peking NCNA International Service...