n.
Pronunciation: ' tir- ə -n ē
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -nies
Etymology: Middle English tyrannie, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, from Latin tyrannus tyrant
Date: 14th century
1 : oppressive power <every form of tyranny over the mind of man ― Thomas Jefferson> especially : oppressive power exerted by government <the tyranny of a police state>
2 a : a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler especially : one characteristic of an ancient Greek city-state b : the office, authority, and administration of a tyrant
3 : a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force <living under the tyranny of the clock ― Dixon Wecter>
4 : a tyrannical act <workers who had suffered tyrannies >