Where does “tyrant” come from?

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

tyrant (Middle English): Alternative form of tyraunt

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of tyraunt

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