tyrant (tirant)

[Early mod. E. also tirant, also tyran, tyranne; democracies or new oligarchies overthrew them. Others raised themselves to the position by direct conquest or conspiracy. The arbitrary government of the tyrants was sometimes beneficent, but more often extremely oppre ive and cruel. The typical tyrant in the latter sense of the word was Dionysius the Elder, of Syracuse (405-367 в. с.). The tyrant of the Chersonese Was freedom's best and bravest friend; That tyrant was Miltiades! Byron, Don Juan, iii. 86 (song). Hence-2. A wilfully arbitrary monarch or person in authority; a ruler or master who uses his power cruelly or oppre ively; any person who treats those bound to him in any way as slaves to his will; an autocratic oppre or. Let us define a Tyrant , not according to vulgar conceits, but the judgment of Aristotle, and of all Learned Men. He is a Tyrant who regards his own welfare and profit only, and not that of the People. Milton, Ans. to Salmasius, xii. A tyrant cannot reign and oppre by his single force; he must really interest, and interest prodigiously, a sufficient number of subordinate tyrants in the duration of his power. Ames , Works, II. 280. 3. A tyrannical or compulsory influence; something that constrains the will inexorably; an overruling power. For lordly love is such a Tyranne fell That where he rules all power he doth expell. Spenser , Shep. Cal., October. Thought emancipated itself from expre ion without becoming its tyrant. Lowell , Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 326. 4. In ornith., a tyrant-flycatcher; one of the Tyrannida. Bald tyrant. Same as baldhead, 3.The Thirty Tyrants, a committee of thirty sympathizers with the oligarchs and with Sparta, who ruled Athens with the democracy under Thrasybulus.