tyrannicide

[Lat. tyrannicidium = the killing of a tyrant; tyrannicida one who kills a tyrant, from tyrannus a tyrant, and cædo (in compos. -cido ) = to kill; Fr. tyrannicide.] 1. The act of killing a tyrant. "Tyrannicide, or the a a ination of usurpers and oppre ive princes, was highly extolled in ancient times."Hume: Principles of Morals , § 2. 2. One who kills a tyrant. "The adulatory verses made in commemoration of these illustrious tyrannicides." - Cumber land: Observer, No. 49. "Th' oppre ion of a tyrannous control Can find no warrant there." Cowper: Task, vi. 455. tyr-an-nous-ly, adv. [Eng. tyrannous; -ly.] In a tyrannous manner; tyrannically, cruelly, oppre ively; like a tyrant. "Trappe the simple innocents, and shed their blode tyrannously." -Joye : Expos , of Daniel , ch. vii. tỹ-răn-nŭs, s. [Lat. = a tyrant (q. v.).] Ornithology : The type-genus of Tyran nine, with eleven species, ranging over all tropical sub-regions and the United States to Canada, Bill with long bristles at base; nostrils small rounded; wings sharply pointed; tail slightly forked; tarsi slender. tyr-an-nỹ, *tir-an-nye, *tyr-an-nie, s. [Fr. tyrannie , from Lat. tyrannia , from Gr. tyrannia= sovereign sway, from tyrannos a tyrant (q. v.); Sp. tirania ; Ital. tirannia ; Port. tyrannia .] *1. Absolute power or sovereignty. "He died in the same day on which Dionysius a umed the tyranny ." - Donald son: Theater of the Greeks , p. 135. 2. Arbitrary or despotic exercise of power; cruel, arbitrary, or oppre ive government or discipline, "Every wanton and causele restraint of the will of the subject, whether practiced by a monarch, a nobility, or a popular a embly, is a degree of tyranny." -Black stone: Comment., bk. i., ch. 1. *3. Severity, rigor, inclemency. "The tyranny o' the open night's too rough For nature to endure."- Shakesp .: Lear , iii. 4. *4. Cruelty, harshne , severity. "The tyranny of her sorrows Takes all livelihood from her cheeks." Shakesp.: All's Well, i. 1. I. Ordinary Language : *1. Orig., one who usurped the chief power without the consent of the people, or at the expense of the existing government; a usurper; an absolute ruler. Such a ruler was not nece arily oppre ive or arbitrary. (For the change in meaning cf. despot.) "A tyrant they name him, who by force commeth to the monarchy against the will of the people." -Smith: Commonwealth, bk. 1., ch. vii. 2. A monarch or other ruler, who uses his power to oppre those under him; an arbitrary or despotic ruler; one who imposes burdens and hardships on those under his control without the authority of law or the nece ities of government; a cruel lord or master; an oppre or, a despot. nide (q. v.). II. Ornith.: Any individual of the family Tyran"The land birds comprise a dove, a tyrant, and a green let."- Atheneum, Nov. 26, 1887, p. 717. Thirty Tyrants : [THIRTY.] tyrant-bird, tyrant-shrike, s . Ornith.: A popular name for any species of the Tyrannidae (q.v.); often restricted to the genus Tyrannus (q. v.), but, when used with the definite article, confined to Tyrannus intrepid us . [KINGBIRD. The popular name has reference to the resemblance of the Tyrannide to the true Shrikes in outward appearance and general habits, and to their fierce and bold disposition, especially during the breeding season, when the males, in their exce ive care for their mates, attack without discrimination any intruder that ventures near their nests. tyrant-shrike, s. [TYRANT-BIRD.] *tyr'-ant, v. i. [TYRANT, 8.] To act or play the tyrant; to tyrannize. "This encouraged the Irish grandees (their O's and Mac's) to rent and tyrant it in their respective seigneuries." Fuller: Worthies; Bucking hams hire. tyre (1), subst. [Native name. A preparation of milk and rice used by the East Indians. *tyre (2), s . [TIRE (3), s .] *tyre, v . t . [TIRE (1), v.] ty-ree-ite, subst. [After the Island of Tyree or Tyrie, Scotland, where found; suff. -ite ( Min.).] Min.: A powder obtained from the pink marble of Tyree, Scotland. It was found by Heddle to be composed of sesquioxide of iron, 38-22; alumina, 8-23; protoxide of iron, 3'16: protoxide of manganese, 0-39; magnesia, 29-94; lime, 2'21; water, 12:47; phosphoric acid, 4'71; silica, 102-100-35. As pointed out by E. S. Dana, no name should have been given to such a mixture. Týr-I-an, a . & s. [Lat. Tyrius .] A. As adjective : 1. Pertaining or belonging to ancient Tyre. 2. Being of a purple color. B. As subst.: A native or inhabitant of Tyre. *Tyrian-cynosure, s. Astron.: Ursa Minor. "And thou shalt be our star of Arcady, Or Tyrian cynosure." Milton: Comus, 343. Tyrian-purple, s. A celebrated purple dye formerly prepared at Tyre from shell-fish. [MUREX, PURPURA.]