Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tyran” come from?

tyran (English) comes from English tyrant, from Middle English tyraunt, from Old French tyrant, from Old French tiran, from Latin tyrannus, from Ancient Greek τύραννος — absolute ruler , initially applied to Lydian king...

tyran (English): Obsolete form of tyrant; To act tyrannically...

Definitions

  1. Obsolete form of tyrant; To act tyrannically...

Ancestry of “tyran”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtyrantA usurper; one who gains power and rules...
2Middle EnglishtyrauntAn absolute monarch; one who rules in despotism;...
3Old Frenchtyrant—
4Old Frenchtiran—
5Latintyrannusruler, monarch; tyrant, despot
6Ancient Greekτύραννοςabsolute ruler , initially applied to Lydian king...
Every word from Ancient Greek τύραννος →