τύραννος

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Ancient Greek

Etymology

Perhaps a borrowing of a Lydian word for “king” or a similar word in another language of Asia Minor,[1][2] possibly cognate with Proto-Celtic *tigernos (e.g., Gildas' phrase "superbo tyranno Vortigerno").[3]

Compare Hittite (šarawanaš), (tarawanaš), Philistine 𐤈𐤓𐤍 (ṭrn, lord, ruler),[4] Τυρρηνός (Turrhēnós, Etruscan), τύρσις (túrsis, tower) and Etruscan 𐌕𐌖𐌓𐌏𐌍 (turon, mistress, lady), a surname of Venus, which is probably related.[2]

The Hittite term is a compound with first part possibly Phoenician 𐤑𐤓 (ṣr /⁠tzor⁠/, Tyre) and second part cognate to Ancient Greek ἄναξ (ánax), Mycenaean Greek 𐀷𐀙𐀏 (king) i.e., a king who donned the Tyrean purple.

Beekes argued for a Pre-Greek origin.[5]

Pronunciation

 

Noun

τῠ́ρᾰννος (túrannosm or f (genitive τῠρᾰ́ννου); second declension

  1. absolute ruler (i.e. of gods, kings), initially applied to Lydian king Γύγης (Gúgēs)
  2. (with negative connotation) tyrant, dictator, despot

Inflection

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Coptic: ⲧⲩⲣⲁⲛⲟⲥ (turanos)
  • Latin: tyrannus (see there for further descendants)
  • Lithuanian: tironas

Adjective

τῠ́ρᾰννος (túrannosm or f (neuter τῠ́ρᾰννον); second declension

  1. kingly, royal, regal
  2. imperious, despotic

Inflection

References

  1. ^ Gregory Nagy, Homer the Preclassic (→ISBN), page 363: Even the Greek usage of the word turannos 'tyrant' is relevant, since it represents the Lydian word for 'king'.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “tyrant”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  3. ^ Codex Abrincencsis
  4. ^ Nancy K. Sandars, The Sea Peoples: Warriors of the Ancient Mediterranean, 1250–1150 BC, Thames and Hudson, 1978
  5. ^ Beekes, Robert S. P. (2010) “τύραννος”, in Etymological Dictionary of Greek (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 10), with the assistance of Lucien van Beek, Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, pages 1519-20

Further reading

Greek

Noun

τύραννος (týrannosm (plural τύραννοι)

  1. tyrant
  2. (historical) tyrant (an absolute ruler in ancient Greece)

Declension

Declension of τύραννος
singular plural
nominative τύραννος (týrannos) τύραννοι (týrannoi)
genitive τυράννου (tyránnou) τυράννων (tyránnon)
accusative τύραννο (týranno) τυράννους (tyránnous)
vocative τύραννε (týranne) τύραννοι (týrannoi)

Synonyms

Further reading