Tyrannous

a. Also 6–7 tir-. [f. L. tyrann-us TYRANT + -OUS.]

  1.  Characterized by or inclined to tyranny; ruling or acting tyrannically; despotic.

1491.  Act 7 Hen. VII., c. 18. Richard the iij^de … of his cruell and tyrannous disposicion … caused [etc.].

1531.  Tindale, Expos. 1 John, Prol. (1538), 3 b. When God visiteth vs with sycknes, pouerte, or what so euer aduersite it be, he doth it not of a tyrannous mynde to satisfye hys luste.

1577.  trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 114. The tyrannous handes of any earthly Pharao.

c. 1600.  Shaks., Sonn., cxxxi. Thou art as tiranous … As those whose beauties proudly make them cruell.

1641.  Vind. Smectymnuus, 8. Those Bishops were Popish Tyrannous Bishops.

1760–72.  H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 34. Gave up the innocent many for a prey to the tyrannous few.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., III. xxv. To speak freely of a tyrannous patron behind his back.

  b.  fig. Exercising absolute dominion in some way; overpowering, irresistible; relentless; inexorable; severe.

1549.  Bible, Ps. xxv. 18. They beare a tyrannous hate agaynst me.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. i. 176. Alas that loue so gentle in his view, Should be so tyrannous and rough in proofe. Ibid. (1604), Oth., III. iii. 447. Yeeld vp (O Loue) thy Crowne … To tyrannous Hate.

1644.  Milton, Educ., Wks. (1847), 99/1. Flattery and court-shifts and tyrannous Aphorisms appear to them the highest points of wisdom.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. xvii. That Tyrannous thing, which we misname Civility.

1797–8.  Coleridge, Anc. Mar., I. xi. The Storm-blast … was tyrannous and strong.

1841–4.  Emerson, Ess., Ser. II. i. (1876), 36. We have yet had no genius in America, with tyrannous eye, which knew the value of our incomparable materials.

1873.  B. Stewart, Conserv. Force, v. 139. [Nature] is only tyrannous on the surface.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., IV. xxxii. To have spoken once is a tyrannous reason for speaking again.

1890.  Century Mag., Feb., 574/1. The tyrannous moral Sense.

  2.  transf. Of the nature of or involving tyranny; oppressive, unjustly severe or cruel.

1556.  Olde, Antichrist, 51 b. The tyrannous power that they hade long wished for.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., IV. xxxi. 153 b. Princes should not vsurpe vpon tyrannous force.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 482. The parching streets That lend a tyrannous and damned light.

1637.  Earl Monm., trans. Malvezzi’s Romulus & Tarquin, 146. I hold a good Principalitie as free, as a bad Common-wealth tyranous.

1709.  Strype, Ann. Ref., I. lvii. 583. That the election of ministers and bishops at this day was tyrannous.

1845.  J. H. Newman, Ess. Developm., 167. As soon as the Empire relaxed its tyrannous oppression of the Church.

1870.  J. R. Seeley, in Macm. Mag., Sept., 354/2. The Press … would have an exceptional and almost tyrannous power.

  3.  Comb., as tyrannous-minded.

1590.  Harington, Apol. Poetrie, in Orl. Fur., ¶ vj. For Tragedies…, that … of Richard the 3. would moue (I thinke) Phalaris the tyraunt, and terrifie all tyrannous minded men.