a. Also 6–7 tir-. [f. as prec. + -AL.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or befitting an absolute ruler or his government; arbitrary; despotic.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 410. Certain places of thempire wer brought into his tirannical power.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 193. His gouernment is rather tyrannicall then kinglike: for he is absolute Lord of all the demeanes of the kingdome.
1603. Daniel, Def. Rhime, Wks. (1717), 14. Nor is this certain Limit observed in Sonnets, any tyrannical Bounding of the Conceit, but rather a reducing it in girum.
1638. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 3. So Tyrannicall an usurpation upon the liberty of mens spirits.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Tyrannical, or Tyrannous, belonging to Tyranny, imperious.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, II. xii. 104. Miletus, after the overthrow of a tyrannical dynasty, was split into two factions.
2. a. Of the nature or character of a tyrant; acting or operating in an oppressive, cruel, or unjustly severe manner.
1538. Starkey, England, I. iv. 115. We must schake of al such tyrannycal custumys and vnresonabyl bandys.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 167. A tyrannicall gouernor.
1606. Warner, Alb. Eng., XIV. lxxxv. (1612), 351. A wretch so vitious, insolent, tyrannicall and prowd.
1618. D. Dyke, Two Treat., Sch. Afflict., 323. Those tygerly and tyrannicall persecutours.
1685. Baxter, Paraphr. N. T., 1 Cor. vii. 12. Such will be tyrannical and malicious Adversaries.
1791. Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, v. If you must be tyrannical, Madam, indulge your humour in private.
1836. Marryat, Midsh. Easy, xii. Like all those who are seldom in command, the master was proportionally tyrannical and abusive.
1872. Morley, Voltaire, i. (1886), 12. A dark and tyrannical superstition.
b. Of, pertaining to, or befitting a tyrant; severely oppressive; despotically harsh or cruel.
1579. E. K., Gloss. Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., July, 173. In purple, spoken of the Popes and Cardinalles, which vse such tyrannical colours and pompous paynting.
1592. trans. Junius on Rev. ix. 13. The first execution done upon the world by the tyrannical powers thereof.
1641. More’s Rich. III., Ded. The troublesome and tyrannicall government of usurping Richard the third.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., lxi. 248. They shall be chastised by the hand of the Most High God for the crimes of their tyrannicall lives.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 290. As to the king of Prussia, his conduct in Poland was the most tyrannical and oppressive that can be conceived.
1812. Scott, Lett. to Southey, 4 June, in Lockhart. I am always prepared to expect the most tyrannical proceedings from professed demagogues.
1884. Pae, Eustace, 23. To his inferiors, his behaviour was most tyrannical.
