What is "tyrant"

Tyrant \Tyr"ant\ (t[imac]"rant), n. [OE. tirant, tiraunt, tyraunt, OF. tiran, tirant (probably from confusion with the p. pr. of verbs), F. tyran, L. tyrannus, Gr. ty`rannos, originally, an absolute sovereign, but afterwards, a severe or cruel ruler.]

1. An absolute ruler; a sovereign unrestrained by law or constitution; a usurper of sovereignty.

   Note: Free governments [in Greece] having superseded the old hereditary sovereignties (basilei^ai), all who obtained absolute power in a state were called ty`rannoi, tyrants, or rather despots; -- for the term rather regards the irregular way in which the power was gained, whether force or fraud, than the way in which it was exercised, being applied to the mild Pisistratus, but not to the despotic kings of Persia. However, the word soon came to imply reproach, and was then used like our tyrant.
   --Liddell & Scott.

2. Specifically, a monarch, or other ruler or master, who uses power to oppress his subjects; a person who exercises unlawful authority, or lawful authority in an unlawful manner; one who by taxation, injustice, or cruel punishment, or the demand of unreasonable services, imposes burdens and hardships on those under his control, which law and humanity do not authorize, or which the purposes of government do not require; a cruel master; an oppressor. ``This false tyrant, this Nero.''
   --Chaucer.

   Love, to a yielding heart, is a king, but to a resisting, is a tyrant.
   --Sir P. Sidney.

3. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of American clamatorial birds belonging to the family Tyrannid[ae]; -- called also tyrant bird.

   Note: These birds are noted for their irritability and pugnacity, and for the courage with which they attack rapacious birds far exceeding them in size and strength. They are mostly plain-colored birds, but often have a bright-colored crown patch. A few species, as the scissorstail, are handsomely colored. The kingbird and pewee are familiar examples.

   Tyrant flycatcher (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of tyrants which have a flattened bill, toothed at the tip, and resemble the true flycatchers in habits. The Acadian flycatcher ( Empidonax Acadicus) and the vermilion flycatcher ( Pyrocephalus rubineus) are examples.

   Tyrant shrike (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of American tyrants of the genus Tyrannus having a strong toothed bill and resembling the strikes in habits. The kingbird is an example.

Tyrant \Ty"rant\, v. i. To act like a tyrant; to play the tyrant; to tyrannical. [Obs.]
--Fuller.

c.1300, "absolute ruler," especially one without legal right; "cruel, oppressive ruler," from Old French tiran, tyrant (12c.), from Latin tyrannus "lord, master, monarch, despot," especially "arbitrary ruler, cruel governor, autocrat" (source also of Spanish tirano, Italian tiranno), from Greek tyrannos "lord, master, sovereign, absolute ruler unlimited by law or constitution," a loan-word from a language of Asia Minor (probably Lydian); Klein compares Etruscan Turan "mistress, lady" (surname of Venus).\nIn the exact sense, a tyrant is an individual who arrogates to himself the royal authority without having a right to it. This is how the Greeks understood the word 'tyrant': they applied it indifferently to good and bad princes whose authority was not legitimate.

[Rousseau, "The Social Contract"]

1. (context uncommon English) tyrannical, tyrannous; like, characteristic of, or in the manner of a tyrant. n. 1 (context historic ancient Greece English) A usurper; one who gains power and rules extralegally, distinguished from kings elevated by election or succession. 2 (context obsolete English) Any monarch or governor. 3 A despot; a ruler who governs unjustly, cruelly, or harshly. 4 (context by extension English) Any person who abuses the power of position or office to treat others unjustly, cruelly, or harshly. 5 (context by extension English) A villain; a person or thing who uses strength or violence to treat others unjustly, cruelly, or harshly. 6 The tyrant birds, members of the family ''Tyrannidæ'', which often fight or drive off other birds which approach their nests. v

2. (context obsolete English) To act like a tyrant; to be tyrannical.

1. n. a cruel and oppressive dictator [syn: autocrat, despot]

2. in ancient Greece, a ruler who had seized power without legal right to it

3. any person who exercises power in a cruel way; "his father was a tyrant"

Tyrant is a extraterrestrial character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Silver Surfer vol. 3, #81 (June 1993).

Tyrant is a comic book series published by Spiderbaby Grafix about a Tyrannosaurus rex, written by Steve Bissette.

Tyrant is a Japanese symphonic black metal band.

Tyrant is the twenty-fourth album by the Finnish experimental rock band Circle.

It was issued as a limited edition CD by Southern Records as part of their Latitudes series in 2006, and re-issued as a double-vinyl LP in 2008. Like other releases in the Latitudes series, it was recorded and mixed in one day. It comprises three long improvised tracks.

Tyrant (foaled 1799) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from April 1802 to April 1803 he ran four times and won two races. In the summer of 1802 he won the Derby on his second racecourse appearance, but the rest of his form was moderate and he was not considered the best of his generation.

Tyrant is an American drama television series created by director and writer Gideon Raff and developed by Howard Gordon and Craig Wright. The first season of Tyrant consisting of 10 episodes premiered on American cable network FX on June 24, 2014 and ended on August 26, 2014. Subsequently, FX then went on to renew Tyrant for a second season which premiered on June 16, 2015, and ended September 1, 2015. On October 8, 2015, the network renewed the series for a third season, which premiered on July 6, 2016.

A tyrant ( Greek , tyrannos), in its modern English usage, is an absolute ruler unrestrained by law or constitution, or one who has usurped legitimate sovereignty. Often described as a cruel character, a tyrant defends his position by oppressive means, tending to control almost everything in the state. The original Greek term, however, merely meant an authoritarian sovereign without reference to character, bearing no pejorative connotation during the Archaic and early Classical periods. However, it was clearly a negative word to Plato, a Greek philosopher, and on account of the decisive influence of philosophy on politics, its negative connotations only increased, continuing into the Hellenistic period.

Plato and Aristotle define a tyrant as "one who rules without law, and uses extreme and cruel tactics—against his own people as well as others". It is defined further in the Encyclopédie as a usurper of sovereign power who makes his subjects the victims of his passions and unjust desires, which he substitutes for laws. During the seventh and sixth centuries BC, tyranny was often looked upon as an intermediate stage between narrow oligarchy and more democratic forms of polity. However, in the late fifth and fourth centuries BC, a new kind of tyrant, the military dictator, arose, specifically in Sicily.

Tyrant is the code name of a series of boss characters in the Resident Evil horror video game series by Capcom, introduced in the original Resident Evil in 1996. Tyrants are towering, biologically engineered undead supersoldiers created and used by the sinister Umbrella Corporation. Tyrant creatures make appearances as boss characters in most Resident Evil games and the desire to create an obedient bioweapon lies at the core of the series' storyline. Tyrants also appear in other media and merchandise of the Resident Evil franchise, as well as in some unrelated games.

Since their debut, the Tyrant series became one of the most recognisable and popular characters of the franchise and even gaming in general. A particularly notable Tyrant is Nemesis, the title character of the video game Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.

A tyrant is a despotic ruler or person.

Tyrant may also refer to:

• Tyrant (TV series), a 2014 American television series
• Tyrant (Ultra monster), a Kaiju (fictional monster)
• Tyrant (Resident Evil), a monster from Resident Evil (series)
• Tyrant (Marvel Comics), a comic book character for Marvel Comics
• Tyrant (Spiderbaby Grafix), a comic book series by Steve Bissette
• Tyrant flycatchers, a family of birds
• Tyrants, a partial title to the Mega Lo Mania video game as it was titled in the U.S.

TYRANT (Tyrant Australia) are a hard rock/heavy metal band from Tasmania, Australia.

The band originally formed in the early 1980s as an AOR band called Slyder – by 2 brothers, Andrew and Robert Zarins. In 1983, childhood friend Neil Wilson joined as singer and the band changed their name to Tyrant enlisting Grant Wallace as second guitarist and began playing a harder-edged style of blues-influenced rock in the style of AC/DC, Rose Tattoo and The Angels. Tyrant were also influenced by countless Overseas metal acts including, Motörhead, Saxon, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Accept.

In 1984, Tyrant released a four-track EP titled Never Too Loud, which topped the metal charts on the local radio stations and gained them a massive following in Tasmania. A successful tour of Tasmania followed, including a show at the Hobart City Hall in front of 2000 people. Tyrant moved to Sydney, becoming one of the leading hard rock bands in the city. Amazingly, Tyrant 'headlined' the inaugural "Metal Crusade" show in 1985, the lineup being: Tyrant, Bengal Tigers, Shy Thunder, Statez and Vice before 1800 metalheads. Despite 'rave' reviews in both RAM and Juke magazines at the time, a strong fanatical fan base, a record deal never eventuated with Tyrant splitting up in late 1986 due to different musical interests among the band members.

In 1987, brothers Andy and Roberet Zarins re-formed Slyder, which split up again in 1990 after releasing one single titled "Dreams".

Meanwhile, Neil Wilson and fellow Tyrant member, guitarist Grant Wallace formed a band called in 1987 called, The Law and played for a couple of years in Sydney, until both Wilson and Wallace formed a band called, "Sonic Temple" which was a concept band for UK rockers, The Cult.

In 1998 Tyrant reformed again with the original line-up, Neil 'Steel' Wilson, Grant Wallace, Andrew Zarins and Robert Zarins – returning to a packed house on 11 November 2000 at the Iron Duke Hotel in Sydney. Tyrant delivered many shows over the next couple of years, recording two full-length albums Freaks of Nature (2000) and Thunder Down Under (2003) before playing their 'last show' together with childhood heroes, Rose Tattoo. The band now middle aged, moved onto married life with the exception of Wilson.

Vocalist Neil Wilson returned to Tasmania in 2004, forming a NEW line-up of Tyrant which released a live CD in 2005 titled, Live Bootleg. The new CD exposed a band that was far more ferocious, than the previous incarnation with the sound shifting its style musically speaking, with Tyrant moving away from their AC/DC, Rose Tattoo roots to a more modern and heavier metal sound with the new lineup consisting of vocalist, Neil Wilson, Brett Collidge on guitars, Simon Wilson guitars, Jason Smith bass guitar, and Nathan Sproule on drums. While only being a 'bootleg' recording, the new Tyrant was far more together musically with a fearsome beast displayed over the recording.

In August 2008 Tyrant singer, Neil Wilson was returning home from a recording session for the bands' "25th Anniversary" project that was underway, when Wilson was involved in a 'head on' car accident, luckily escaping with relative minor injuries.

Recording of the "Anniversary" CD re-commenced in early 2009 with 2 new songs, albeit in 'demo' form titled, "Running From The Law" and "Defenders Of The Faith" uploaded to the bands' My Space page (TyrantAustralia) – the first new studio recordings by Tyrant since 2003.

The "Save The Devil" (demo edition) was released March 2011 containing 10 songs of attitude fuelled, obnoxious hard rock metal that sees the Tasmanian metal act deliver possibly their finest effort to date. Full of barn storming anthems, a cool cover and a ballad - "Save The Devil" was recorded at Izaneer studios, in Tasmania - and was the fifth self-financed CD by TYRANT being engineered, mixed and produced by Brett Collidge. A number of videos have been up loaded to YouTube (keywords Tyrant Australia) including a new song, 'Lay Down The Law' off the latest CD.

On 19 August 2011 saw the inception of a new "All Star" TYRANT at the Brisbane Hotel in Hobart. The new line up features: James Shelverton (Lady Crimson), Adrian Scott (Hammerhead), Justin Everett (Rogue Sharks/Roadkill), Michael Adkins (Raise The Flag/Rogue Sharks) and Neil Steel (Roadkill).

The 'SPECIAL EDITION' of the "Save The Devil" CD was issued 1 June 2012 - the CD being remixed and mastered, produced by Brett Collidge and re-mixed by Michael Shelley in Hobart at the Green Room studios. The CD includes 2 different cover art and contains 8 songs! TYRANT returned to the stage playing in Hobart on 18 May 2012 - supporting US metal legend, TIM RIPPER OWENS on his first Australian solo tour!

The band played its '30th Anniversary Show' at the Brisbane hotel, Hobart (Tasmania) in March 2013 and now has an 'official' page at Facebook (tyrantaustralia)and will release their 7th product - an 'Anniversary Edition' 2 CD version of "Never Too Loud" release in March 2015. The 2-CD set contains 8 tracks, the 'original' 1984 4 song (demo cassette)and the same 4 songs in re-recorded versions! The songs are: War Of The Roses, Thunder & Steel, Never Too Loud and Lamb To The Slaughter.

In October 2015 - TYRANT headlined the 'Tasmanian Edition' of the second, METAL UNITED DOWN UNDER showcase concert, with the return of original guitarist Andy Zarins - joining co-founding member Neil 'Steel' Wilson (vocals), Adrian Scott (guitars), Justin Everett (bass guitar) and James Shelverton (drums) in the current line up of the band.

A new compilation album, "Thunder & Steel" - is scheduled for an October 2016 release date and will feature a brand new song titled, Hellbound - along with a number of songs lifted from all the bands' previous 6 releases.

A brand new TYRANT album featuring all new material is to be recorded in mid 2017 for a December release date.

TYRANT vocalist Neil 'Steel' Wilson - also fronts another Tasmanian based hard rock act, ROADKILL (Australia).