Dictionary

tyrannous en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈtɪɹənəs/

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek τύραννος (túrannos)bor. Latin tyrannus Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₃édosder.? Proto-Italic *-ŏ̄dsos? Old Latin -ōssus Latin -ōsus Old French -usbor. Middle English -ous English -ous English tyrannous From Latin tyrannus (“tyrant”) + English -ous.

Meanings

1. Tyrannical, despotic or oppressive.
   • It is extraordinary that as the wicked arts of this regicide and tyrannous faction increase in number, variety, and atrocity, the desire of punishing them becomes more and more faint […] 1797, Edmund Burke, “Remarks on the Policy of the Allies with Respect to France”, in Three Memorials on French Affairs, London: F. & C. Rivington, page 193:
   • […] that Elfe, That man and beast with powre imperious Subdeweth to his kingdome tyrannous: 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, page 582:
   • Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne To tyrannous hate! c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:
   • As life wears on and finds no rest, The individual in each breast Is tyrannous to sunder them. 1881, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, “Soothsay” in Ballads and Sonnets, London: Ellis & White, pp. 269-270, The affinities have strongest part In youth, and draw men heart to heart

Forms

Deriveds

tyrannously · tyrannousness