■ noun ( plural tyrannies )
1》 cruel and oppressive government or rule.
↘a state under such rule.
2》 cruel and arbitrary exercise of power or control.
3》 (especially in ancient Greece) rule by a tyrant.
Derivatives
tyrannical adjective
tyrannically adverb
tyrannize or tyrannise verb
tyrannous adjective
tyrannously adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr. tyrannie , from late L. tyrannia , from L. turannus (see tyrant ).