tetrarch

noun

te·trarch ˈte-ˌträrk

ˈtē-

1

: a governor of the fourth part of a province

2

: a subordinate prince

tetrarchic

te-ˈträr-kik

tē-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin tetrarcha, from Greek tetrarchēs, from tetra- + -archēs -arch

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of tetrarch was in the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Tetrarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tetrarch. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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