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Carpal Tunnel
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From the Dryden translation of Plutarch's life of Pompey Magnus: Gabinius, one of Pompey's friends, preferred a law, whereby there was granted to him, not only the government of the seas as admiral, but in direct words, sole and irresponsible sovereignty over all men. For the decree gave him absolute power and authority in all the seas within the pillars of Hercules, and in the adjacent mainland for the space of four hundred furlongs from the sea. http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_text_plutarch_pompey.htmFrom context it is obvious that irresponsible meant something different in Dryden's day -- the idea being that Pompey was not responsible to anyone, he didn't have to report back to a boss. The question is, how would you express that concept in a single word these days now that irresponsible has taken on a different meaning? Bingley
Bingley
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old hand
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old hand
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I suggest absolute (as in absolutism)
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Carpal Tunnel
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I agree that it comes to the same thing, wseiber, but I think the two words have different nuances: absolute simply suggests that there are no limitations on his power, while irresponsible would seem to be more specifically saying that he's not accountable to anyone.
Bingley
Bingley
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Can't find anything. Irresponsible fits better with the context of *decreed* power which, after all, is not absolute.
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addict
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addict
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Unquestionable? Indisputable? Incontestable?
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Carpal Tunnel
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TEd
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Carpal Tunnel
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OP
Carpal Tunnel
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Bushlike?
Wouldn't that be more akin to the modern meaning?
Bingley
Bingley
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Carpal Tunnel
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Methinks the word is "unaccountable." Whenever there is a serious discussion of authority, there is a co-occuuring discussion of accountability. The concept here is, I think, that Gabinius was accountable to no one.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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"unaccountable" was what I thought of, too. But Bingley wanted a single word, and it requires a preposition -- unless you can say "unaccountable power." And maybe you can.
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Carpal Tunnel
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> Bingley wanted a single word hmm, I thought he was looking for a replacement, so unaccountable sovereignty(dang that looks wrong(ly)) would work, no? The question is, how would you express that concept in a single word these days now, that irresponsible has taken on a different meaning?change? (putting an (mis)understood comma where mayhaps it don't belong...) 
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