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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tyran(n)y, Tyrandy, Tir(r)any, n. Also: tyran(n)ie, tyrannye, -ey, tyran(n)é, tiran(n)i(e, tirainie, tyrran(n)ie, tyrranny(e, tyrrané, tirranye, tirrannie, -ye, teranny, terandy. [ME and e.m.E. tyrannye, tirandye (both Chaucer), tirannie (Gower), tyrany (1475), tyranny (1494), tiranni (1555), OF tyrannie. See also Tyran(d)ry n., Tyrannité n.]

1. a. Oppressive or despotic government by a lawful ruler; the actions or behaviour of a tyrant or despot. b. The unlawful seizure of power and subsequent oppressive or tyrannical actions of a usurper; conquest. c. An instance of these.a., b., c. a1400 Leg. S. ii 643.
The payne That Nero tholit … For tyranny 1456 Hay I 69/26.
Macedoyne … was alssua foundit be Alexander the grete, be force and maistry of tyranny 1456 Hay II 24/36.
Thai geve him [sc. the prince] unworthy counsale, to do apon his subjectis extorsiouns, be wikktnesse of tyrannye c1520-c1535 Nisbet II 43 marg.
Than may thai flee the tyrannye of tyrannes 1531 Bell. Boece I v.
Quhen we may … se The furius end sum time of tirannie; Sum time the glore of prudent governouris 1531 Bell. Boece I 226.
Mony of the nobillis assistit to Romak and declarit him king. Yit as the custom of tyrannis is, he conquest the realme wekitlie [etc.] … This tyranny of Romak [etc.] 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 164/12.
The peple of Israell … war deliuerit fra the seruitude and tyrannie of Pharao c1590 Fowler II 43/7.
Quhome God steare vp in opponing thame against his [sc. the Pope's] tyrannie 1596 Dalr. I 146/10.
Quhen Euen was deid, his bastard sone … occupiet the realme throuch tyrannie and force of armes 1587-99 Hume 170/94.
For preventing of all abuse and tyrannie that might creepe in into the Kirk it wes thocht speedfull that suche brethren sould be astricted till a number of cawtions … speciallie expressed … to restrane thame 1622-6 Bisset II 162/2.
The kingis and princes of Scotland, that war inclyned to greid and crowall tirannie 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose 671.
If it be lawful to resist … tyranny against law, to the destruction of the body of a people(b) c1460 Consail Vys Man 282.
Desyr neuir kepinge of justice In land quhar na law kepyt is, Na seruice, office na maistry Wndyr princis that levis by tyrany 1559 Cal. Sc. P. I 285.
The crwawlte and tirani of the reawlers … & murdring dayly the sanctes of God 1679 Edinb. B. Rec. X 366.
[They were] used as slaves in a most sad and miserable maner under the tirany and slaverie of these infidells(c) c1420 Wynt. v 3034.
He … demanyd the empyre Wytht tyrandyis [C. terandyis] c1420 Wynt. v 4495.
Throwch tyrandy … He put off Rome [was] in hard exile(d) c1420 Wynt. v 3020 (C) (see sense 1 (c) above).
Terandyis a1500 Lanc. 1882.
God hyme self resauith ther the crye Of the oppresioune and the teranny(e) 1535 Stewart 40123.
With his liegis he wes … ill lude And … with all the men of gude So haittit him for his tirranye c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1854.
Than maid he proclamatioun Quho maid nocht adoratioun To that new God … sulde suffer dede. I fynd no man, in to that lande, His tyrrannie that durste ganestande c1552 Lynd. Mon. 1935.
Off weir, this is the fatell ende; Justice turnit in tyrrannye, All plesour in aduersitye c1568 Lauder Minor P. i 115.
Tirrannye 1558-66 Knox II 91.
In quhat hasard thair [sc. Catholic clergy's] tyrranie hes brocht this haill realme, the ages efter will considder 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 22.
Tirranie 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 115.
Who to eschew the tirrany of Mackbeth fled into Wales ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. II 82.
A meer tyrranny and soleshipp of the bishopps is established over all the churches

2. a. Violent, oppressive, lawless behaviour; fierce, aggressive, ruthless fighting. b. Wickedness, more generally. c. An instance of these.There is overlap between senses 1 and 2. a1500 Henr. Fab. 891.
The tiger full off tiranie [Ch. tirannie, Bann. tyrrane] 1490 Irland Mir. I 122/20.
The gret malis and tyranny of the innemy of mankynd c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 20/141 (B).
I schryve me … Of tyranny [M. tyranney] and vengeable crewaltie 1533 Boece 41b.
Scottis was ane pepill vndantit, of beistlie maneris nowthir gevin to meiknes nor humanitie … bot full of tyrannye 1533 Bell. Livy I 113/13.
His slauchtir & tyranny [v.r. tyranry] obscurit the glore of all his valeȝeant dedis 1535 Stewart 22124.
Tirrany 1547 Reg. Privy C. I 75.
Havand respect to the … mony incursionis … continewalie maid upoun this realme be our auld ynemeis of Ingland and surlie informit of the greit preparationis and tyrany divisit and ordanit be our saidis auld ynemeis for the distructioun of this realme 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 170.
To … defend me [sc. a widow] … aganis the violence and tyrannie of the said Lard 1563–4 Sc. Ant. XVI 80.
[He] slew the said umquhile cardinall … and thairefter … usit all impire and tyrannie that best plesit him … about the haill ceite of Sanct Androis 1567 Reg. Privy C. I 522.
How … he mycht … oppres and distroy that innocent infant … and swa be tyranne and cruell deidis at last to usurpe the royall croun 1571–2 Reg. Privy C. II 122.
The tyranne, wrak and desolatioun intendit be the saidis declarit tratouris and rebellis 1572 Reg. Privy C. II 146.
Mynding by sic tirrany to continew thair reif of uther mennis guidis a1578 Pitsc. I 6/17.
The wicked tyranie Of fals tratouris … That to thair princes wald nevir obey a1578 Pitsc. I 66/20.
Tiranie a1578 Pitsc. I 67/9.
Tirainie a1578 Pitsc. I 79/30.
Tyrranepl. 1531 Bell. Boece I 189.
The gret tyrannyis done be Romanis, in plane eversioun of thair native lawis a1578 Pitsc. I 40/6.
Persawing the Earle of Douglas to be principall cause of all thir enormiteis and wicked mischevous tirannieis a1578 Pitsc. I 71/2.
Henrie thair capietane … was taine and beheidit for his tirannis and interpryces

3. Something that dominates or exerts control. 1490 Irland Mir. III 122/16.
The noble prince suld … keip the port of his hert that the horrible wice of ambicioun enter nocht in it for he that admittis that tyrane, king noble or kyrkman is led … to expone him to all maner of peralis