English

edit

Proper noun

edit

Robespierre

  1. The French Revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre, 1758–1794. Often used as a byword for a murderous demagogue or tyrant.
    • 1863, Edward Dicey, Spectator of America[1], Quadrangle, published 1971, page 25:
      Why, Greeley wants to be blood-thirsty — he wants to be a little Robespierre.
    • 1922 October 2, “Gonatas Not a Robespierre”, in Boston Daily Globe[2], archived from the original on 30 June 2013:
      "I am not, as you have seen, a Robespierre, and I don't even want to be thought of as a military dictator," said Col Gonatas, leader of the revolutionary movement, []
    • 2007, Peter Heller, The Whale Warriors[3], →ISBN, page 64:
      During communications blackouts when Allison, who was the Robespierre of the ship, forbade all outside contacts, Taggart lurched out onto the aft deck, []

French

edit

Proper noun

edit

Robespierre ?

  1. a French surname