Difference between revisions of "Tyrant - tyrannous"
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**'''tyrannicide''', 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.) | **'''tyrannicide''', 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'. Kings in the modern sense (hereditary monarchs) were more usuially called ''[[basil]] | + | **'''''[[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'. Kings in the modern sense (hereditary monarchs) were more usuially called ''[[basil]]eus''. (It may be better in earlier texts, such as [[Homer]], to translate ''basileus'' as 'chieftain' or 'prince'; the higher-ranked monarchs, 'High Kings', are represented by the Greek ''anax''.) The word '''tyrant''' 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. | + | ***7th century BCE, when (Ï„Ï…Ïαννοι - ''tyrannoi'') were absolute rulers who had usurped power, although by and large for the good of the city-states over which they ruled. This was the 'Age of the Tyrants' in the 7th and 6th centuries BC. |
| − | ***Until the earlier part of the classical period, the word ( | + | ***Until the earlier part of the classical period, the word (Ï„Ï…Ïαννος ''turannos'') did not have the negative connotations of our word 'tyrant'. (It is this meaning that can be seen in the original title ''Oedipous '''tyrannos''''' of the [[Sophocles]] tragedy now usually called by [[Latin]] ''Oedipus Rex''.) |
| − | ***Later, with the establishment of democracy in (some of) the Greek cities, the word did begin to acquire negative connotations. For example, Aristotle in his classification of types of constitution in Politics III 7 contrasts kingship (basileia), which he defines as the rule of one person in the common interest and one of the good types of constitution, with 'tyranny' (turannis), which he defines as the rule of one person in his own interest and one of the bad or 'deviant' types of constitution. So ''turannis'' for Aristotle clearly has negative connotations - although his definition of ''turannis'' doesn't quite fit our 'tyranny'. | + | ***Later, with the establishment of democracy in (some of) the Greek cities, the word did begin to acquire negative connotations. For example, Aristotle in his classification of types of constitution in Politics III 7 contrasts kingship (''basileia''), which he defines as the rule of one person in the common interest and one of the good types of constitution, with 'tyranny' (''turannis''), which he defines as the rule of one person in his own interest and one of the bad or 'deviant' types of constitution. So ''turannis'' for Aristotle clearly has negative connotations - although his definition of ''turannis'' doesn't quite fit our 'tyranny'. |
'''Tyrant''' (and its [[derivative]]s) now have only negative [[connotation]]s. ''[[OED]]'' has as meaning '''3. '''"A king or ruler who exercises his power in an oppressive, unjust, or cruel manner; a despot"; and as '''4.''': "Any one who exercises power or authority oppressively, despotically, or cruelly; one who treats those under his control tyrannically." | '''Tyrant''' (and its [[derivative]]s) now have only negative [[connotation]]s. ''[[OED]]'' has as meaning '''3. '''"A king or ruler who exercises his power in an oppressive, unjust, or cruel manner; a despot"; and as '''4.''': "Any one who exercises power or authority oppressively, despotically, or cruelly; one who treats those under his control tyrannically." | ||
Revision as of 20:51, 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'.
- tyrannicide, 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'. Kings in the modern sense (hereditary monarchs) were more usuially called basileus. (It may be better in earlier texts, such as Homer, to translate basileus as 'chieftain' or 'prince'; the higher-ranked monarchs, 'High Kings', are represented by the Greek anax.) The word tyrant 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 good of the city-states over which they ruled. This was the 'Age of the Tyrants' in the 7th and 6th centuries BC.
- Until the earlier part of the classical period, the word (Ï„Ï…Ïαννος turannos) did not have the negative connotations of our word 'tyrant'. (It is this meaning that can be seen in the original title Oedipous tyrannos of the Sophocles tragedy now usually called by Latin Oedipus Rex.)
- Later, with the establishment of democracy in (some of) the Greek cities, the word did begin to acquire negative connotations. For example, Aristotle in his classification of types of constitution in Politics III 7 contrasts kingship (basileia), which he defines as the rule of one person in the common interest and one of the good types of constitution, with 'tyranny' (turannis), which he defines as the rule of one person in his own interest and one of the bad or 'deviant' types of constitution. So turannis for Aristotle clearly has negative connotations - although his definition of turannis doesn't quite fit our 'tyranny'.
- 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'. Kings in the modern sense (hereditary monarchs) were more usuially called basileus. (It may be better in earlier texts, such as Homer, to translate basileus as 'chieftain' or 'prince'; the higher-ranked monarchs, 'High Kings', are represented by the Greek anax.) The word tyrant dates back as far as the
Tyrant (and its derivatives) now have only negative connotations. OED has as meaning 3. "A king or ruler who exercises his power in an oppressive, unjust, or cruel manner; a despot"; and as 4.: "Any one who exercises power or authority oppressively, despotically, or cruelly; one who treats those under his control tyrannically."
