τύραννος

A. an absolute ruler, unlimited by law or constitution, first in h.Mart. 5 (unless the hymn is late), where it is used of a god, Ἆρες, . . ἀντιβίοισι τύραννε; so ὁ τῶν θεῶν τ., of Zeus, A. Pr. 736, cf. Ar. Nu. 564 (lyr.); ὦ τύραννε τᾶς ἐμᾶς φρενός, i.e. Apollo, S. Tr. 217 (lyr.); σὺ δ’ ὦ τύραννε θεῶν τε κἀνθρώπων Ἔρως E. Fr. 136; Μὴν Τύραννος, a Phrygian deity worshipped in Attica, IG 22.1366.2 (i A. D.), al.; οὔ, τὴν τ. (perh. Hera), in an oath, Herod. 5.77: first used of monarchs in the time of Archil. (cf. τυραννίς 1) acc. to Hippias 9 D.; Φίττακον ἐστάσαντο τ. Alc. 37 A; ἢν μή τις ἢ τ. ἢ σκηπτοῦχος ᾖ Semon. 7.69; λαγέτας τ. Pi. P. 3.85; interchangeable with βασιλεύς in Isoc. 2.4 (cf. 1), 35 (cf. 36); later, chief, princeling, OGI 654.8 (Egypt, i B. C.); τ. ἴδιοι καθ’ ἕκαστον ἐμτπόριον Peripl.M.Rubr. 14: c. gen., Κροῖσος . . τ. ἐθνέων τῶν ἐντὸς Ἅλυος Hdt. 1.6; Κλεισθένης ὁ Σικυῶνος τ., Ἱστιαῖος ὁ Μιλήτου τ., etc., Id. 5.67, 7.10.γ/, etc.; ὁ τῶν Κυπρίων τ. Sor. 1.39; οἱ τ., of the Sicilian tyrants, Th. 1.14; of the Pisistratidae, X. HG 6.5.33, Arist. Ath. 13.5, Pol. 1275b36, cf. Th. 6.54, Pl. Smp. 182c; τὸν τ. κτανέτην Scol. 9.3; οἱ τ. the monarchical party, προδιδοὺς τοῖς τ. τὴμ πόλιν τὴν Ἐρυθραίων IG 12.10.32: freq. in a bad sense, δημοφάγος τ. Thgn. 1181, cf. 823, Hdt. 3.80, Pl. Grg. 510b, Plt. 301c, R. 569b, etc.; ὕβρις φυτεύει τύραννον S. OT 873 (lyr.).

2. in a wider sense, of members of the ruler's family, οἱ τ. 'the royal house', Id. Tr. 316, cf. OC 851, Charito 1.2: ἡ τύραννος is used both of the queen herself and the king's daughter, princess, E. Hec. 809, Med. 42, 877, 1356, cf. infr. 11; πρέπει γὰρ ὡς τ. εἰσορᾶν, of Clytemnestra, S. El. 664; αὐτὴ . . τ. ἦ Φρυγῶν E. Andr. 204.

3. metaph., ἵνα Δίκη τ. ᾖ that Justice may be supreme, Critias 25.6D.; Ἔρως τ. ἀνδρῶν E. Hipp. 538 (lyr.); Πειθὼ τὴν τ. ἀνθρώποις μόνην Id. Hec. 816.

4. golden-crested wren, Regulus cristatus, Arist. HA 592b23; cf. τροχίλος 1.2.

II. τύραννος,ον, as Adj., kingly, royal, τύραννα σκῆπτρα A. Pr. 761; τ. σχῆμα S. Ant. 1169; τύραννα δρᾶν to act as a king, Id. OT 588; ἡ τύραννος κόρη E. Med. 1125; τύραννον δῶμα the king's palace, Id. Hipp. 843 (lyr.), etc.; τ. ἑστία Id. Andr. 3; τ. δόμος the royal house, Id. Hel. 478, etc.; ἐς τύρανν’ ἐγημάμην into the royal house, Id. Tr. 474.

2. imperious, despotic, τ. πόλις Th. 1.122, 124; αἱ τ. φύσεις Luc. Ner. 2. (Loan-word, prob. from Phrygian or Lydian.)