Where does “tyrant” come from?

Tyrant comes from Middle English tyrant, from Old French tirant, from Latin tyrannus, from Ancient Greek τύραννος, a word for an illegitimate ruler or usurper of power.

tyrant (English): A usurper; one who gains power and rules...

Definitions

  1. A usurper; one who gains power and rules...

Ancestry of “tyrant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishtyrauntAn absolute monarch; one who rules in despotism;...
2Old Frenchtyrant—
3Old Frenchtiran—
4Latintyrannusruler, monarch; tyrant, despot
5Ancient Greekτύραννοςabsolute ruler (originally applied to the Lydian king)

Words derived from “tyrant”

Every word from Ancient Greek τύραννος →Every word from Latin tyrannus →Every word from Old French tiran →