Is a tyrant a bad thing?

Is a tyrant a bad thing?

For the ancient Greeks, a tyrant was not necessarily a bad ruler; in its original form (tyrannos) the word was used to describe a person who held absolute and personal power within a state, as distinct from a monarch, whose rule was bound by constitution and law.

What does triant mean?

noun. a sovereign or other ruler who uses power oppressively or unjustly. any person in a position of authority who exercises power oppressively or despotically. a tyrannical or compulsory influence.

What does familiarly mean?

The adverb familiarly describes things that are said and done in a familiar way. If the news reports on something in a familiarly sensationalist way, it’s a type of reporting that you see all the time. But if your best friend hugs you familiarly, he does it lovingly.

What does it mean to be a tyrant?

A tyrant (Greek τύραννος, tyrannos ), in the modern English usage of the word, is an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or person, or one who has usurped legitimate sovereignty. Often described as a cruel character, a tyrant defends their position by oppressive means, tending to control almost everything in the state.

What is the same thing as tyrant?

A dictator or despot is someone who rules with absolute authority, usually cruelly. It now has the same meaning as ‘tyrant’, whereas before, ‘tyrant’ meant something like ‘ruler’ or ‘king’.

What is the ancient definition of a tyrant?

A tyrant-also known as a basileus or king-in ancient Greece meant something different from our modern concept of a tyrant as simply a cruel and oppressive despot . A tyrant was little more than an autocrat or leader who had overturned an existing regime of a Greek polis and was, therefore, an illegitimate ruler, a usurper.

What is another word for tyrant?

Another word for tyrant. An absolute ruler, especially one who is harsh and oppressive: Big Brother, despot, dictator, führer, man on horseback, oppressor, strongman, totalitarian.