Tyrant - tyrannous

The noun tyrant and its related adjective tyrannous look the same and share their origin and meaning - but they are pronounced differently.

• The noun 'a tyrant' has a first vowel like that of 'tire', 'line' and 'sign': 'TIRE-ant', IPA: /ˈtaɪ rÉ™nt/.
• In the adjective tyrannous, the first vowel is like that in 'sit', 'fit' and 'bit': 'TIRR-en-es', IPA: /tɪr É™n É™s/. The same is true of other words derived from tyrant:
  • tyrannical, an adjective meaning 'in the manner of a tyrant';
  • tyrannize, a verb meaning 'to behave like a tyrant', and in particular 'to rule harshly over'; and
  • tyranny, an abstract noun meaning 'the rule of a tyrant', 'bullying behaviour typical of a tyrant', or in the most general and least emotional sense, 'the form of government characterised by an autocratic ruler'.

Etymological note: