Difference between revisions of "Tyrant - tyrannous"
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**'''tyrranicide''', a [[noun]] meaning the crime of, or a person committing the crime of, killing a tyrant'. (Some republicans regard this action as no crime. ''The tyrannicide brief'', by Geoffrey Robertson, published in 2005 by Chatto & Windus in London, recounts the trials first of [[King Charles#Charles I|Charles I]], in 1649, which led to his execution; and second of the prosecutor, John Cooke in 1660 (after the [[Restoration]]) on a charge of high treason, which led in turn to his execution.) | **'''tyrranicide''', a [[noun]] meaning the crime of, or a person committing the crime of, killing a tyrant'. (Some republicans regard this action as no crime. ''The tyrannicide brief'', by Geoffrey Robertson, published in 2005 by Chatto & Windus in London, recounts the trials first of [[King Charles#Charles I|Charles I]], in 1649, which led to his execution; and second of the prosecutor, John Cooke in 1660 (after the [[Restoration]]) on a charge of high treason, which led in turn to his execution.) | ||
| − | **'''''[[etymology|Etymological]] note''''': The meaning of '''tyrant''' can be confusing. It has certainly changed over time. It is a [[Greek]] word whose general sense is 'an individual exercising the power of government'. It dates back as far as the 7th century BCE, when | + | **'''''[[etymology|Etymological]] note''''': The meaning of '''tyrant''' can be confusing. It has certainly changed over time. It is a [[Greek]] word whose general sense is 'an individual exercising the power of government'. It dates back as far as the |
| − | *** | + | ***7th century BCE, when (Ï„Ï…Ïαννοι - ''tyrannoi'') were absolute rulers who had usurped power, although by and large for the city-states over which they ruled. This was the 'Age of the Tyrants' in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. |
| − | + | ***So, until the earlier part of the classical period, the word (Ï„Ï…Ïαννοσ ''turannos'') did not have the negative connotations of our word 'tyrant'. | |
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Revision as of 14:16, 6 December 2009
The noun tyrant and its related adjective tyrannous look the same and share their origin and meaning - but they are pronounced differently.
- The noun 'a tyrant' has a first vowel like that of 'tire', 'line' and 'sign': 'TIRE-ant', IPA: /ˈtaɪ rənt/.
- In the adjective tyrannous, the first vowel is like that in 'sit', 'fit' and 'bit': 'TIRR-en-es', IPA: /tɪr ən əs/. The same is true of other words derived from tyrant:
- tyrannical, an adjective meaning 'in the manner of a tyrant';
- tyrannize, a verb meaning 'to behave like a tyrant', and in particular 'to rule harshly over'; and
- tyranny, an abstract noun meaning 'the rule of a tyrant', 'bullying behaviour typical of a tyrant', or in the most general and least emotional sense, 'the form of government characterised by an autocratic ruler'.
- tyrranicide, a noun meaning the crime of, or a person committing the crime of, killing a tyrant'. (Some republicans regard this action as no crime. The tyrannicide brief, by Geoffrey Robertson, published in 2005 by Chatto & Windus in London, recounts the trials first of Charles I, in 1649, which led to his execution; and second of the prosecutor, John Cooke in 1660 (after the Restoration) on a charge of high treason, which led in turn to his execution.)
- Etymological note: The meaning of tyrant can be confusing. It has certainly changed over time. It is a Greek word whose general sense is 'an individual exercising the power of government'. It dates back as far as the
- 7th century BCE, when (Ï„Ï…Ïαννοι - tyrannoi) were absolute rulers who had usurped power, although by and large for the city-states over which they ruled. This was the 'Age of the Tyrants' in the 7th and 6th centuries BC.
- So, until the earlier part of the classical period, the word (Ï„Ï…Ïαννοσ turannos) did not have the negative connotations of our word 'tyrant'.
- Etymological note: The meaning of tyrant can be confusing. It has certainly changed over time. It is a Greek word whose general sense is 'an individual exercising the power of government'. It dates back as far as the
