Tyranny

[Scooter100]

The changing definition of "Tyranny" over the past 77 years.

Webster's Collegiate Dictionary - 5th Edition - (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1941)

1. The government or authority of a tyrant; the office, tenure, or system of administration, of an absolute ruler called a tyrant.
2. Hence, arbitrary or despotic exercise of power; despotism.
3. A tyrannical act.
4. Severity; rigor.

Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary - 7th Edition - (Merriam-Webster, 1971)

1. (a) a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler; esp: one characteristic of an ancient Greek city-state
(b) the office, authority, and administration of such a ruler
2. arbitrary and despotic government; esp : rigorous, cruel, and oppressive government
3. a severe condition or effect : rigor
4. a tyrannical act

Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary - 9th Edition - (Merriam-Webster, 1987)

1. oppressive power; esp : oppressive power exerted by government
2. (a) a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler; esp : one characteristic of an ancient Greek city-state
(b) the office, authority, and administration of a tyrant
3. a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force
4. a tyrannical act

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary - Internet/Online - 18 March 2018

1. oppressive power; esp : oppressive power exerted by government
2. (a) a government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler; esp : one characteristic of an ancient Greek city-state
(b) the office, authority, and administration of a tyrant
3. a rigorous condition imposed by some outside agency or force
4. an oppressive, harsh, or unjust act : a tyrannical act

[aspasia]

Not to be confused with the exercise of legal or natural vested powers.

[Bryanw92]

It’s hard to define tyranny when college professors teach kids that tyranny is when people want to keep what they earned (that’s oppressive—women and children hardest hit) and freedom is doing what the government wants you to do.