Dynasty
/ˈdɪnəsti/noun
A succession of rulers from the same family or line.
Did you know?Its deepest root is Greek *dynamis*, meaning “power” or “capacity,” the same family behind words like dynamic and dynamite—so a dynasty is literally a line built on force.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
GR
dýnamis (δύναμις)
“power, strength, ability”
Late Greek
GR
dynasteía (δυναστεία)
“rule, sovereignty, dominion”
Medieval Latin
LA
dynastia
“rule by a powerful house or ruling line”
Middle French
FR
dynastie
“a line of rulers, a ruling family”
16th Century
EN
dynasty
“a succession of rulers from the same family”