| 释义 |
tyrannous, a.|ˈtɪrənəs|
Also 6–7 tir-.
[f. L. tyrann-us tyrant + -ous.]
1. Characterized by or inclined to tyranny; ruling or acting tyrannically; despotic.
1491Act 7 Hen. VII, c. 18 Richard the iijde..of his cruell and tyrannous disposicion..caused [etc.]. 1531Tindale 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. 1577tr. Bullinger's Decades (1592) 114 The tyrannous handes of any earthly Pharao. c1600Shakes. Sonn. cxxxi, Thou art as tiranous..As those whose beauties proudly make them cruell. 1641Vind. Smectymnuus 8 Those Bishops were Popish Tyrannous Bishops. 1760–72H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 34 Gave up the innocent many for a prey to the tyrannous few. 1876Geo. 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.
1549Bible Ps. xxv. 18 They beare a tyrannous hate agaynst me. 1592Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. i. 176 Alas that loue so gentle in his view, Should be so tyrannous and rough in proofe. 1604― Oth. iii. iii. 447 Yeeld vp (O Loue) thy Crowne..To tyrannous Hate. 1644Milton Educ. Wks. (1847) 99/1 Flattery and court-shifts and tyrannous Aphorisms appear to them the highest points of wisdom. 1665Boyle Occas. Refl. iv. xvii, That Tyrannous thing, which we misname Civility. 1797–8Coleridge Anc. Mar. i. xi, The Storm-blast..was tyrannous and strong. 1841–4Emerson 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. 1873B. Stewart Conserv. Force v. 139 [Nature] is only tyrannous on the surface. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. iv. xxxii, To have spoken once is a tyrannous reason for speaking again. 1890Century Mag. Feb. 574/1 The tyrannous moral Sense.
2. transf. Of the nature of or involving tyranny; oppressive, unjustly severe or cruel.
1556Olde Antichrist 51 b, The tyrannous power that they hade long wished for. 1585T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iv. xxxi. 153 b, Princes should not vsurpe vpon tyrannous force. 1602Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 482 The parching streets That lend a tyrannous and damned light. 1637Earl of Monmouth tr. Malvezzi's Romulus & Tarquin 146, I hold a good Principalitie as free, as a bad Common-wealth tyranous. 1709Strype Ann. Ref. I. lvii. 583 That the election of ministers and bishops at this day was tyrannous. 1845J. H. Newman Ess. Developm. 167 As soon as the Empire relaxed its tyrannous oppression of the Church. 1870J. R. Seeley in Macm. Mag. Sept. 354/2 The Press..would have an exceptional and almost tyrannous power.
3. Comb., as tyrannous-minded.
1590Harington 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. |