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In partic., a cruel or severe ruler, a despot, tyrant: tyrannorum vita, Cic. Lael. 15, 52; id. Phil. 13, 8, 18; id. Vatin. 9, 23: importunus atque amens, id. Verr. 2, 5, 40, § 103; id. Mil. 13, 35; id. Tusc. 5, 20, 57: cum exitiabilis tyrannus (urbem) vi atque armis oppressit, Liv. 29, 17, 19: tyrannorum ingeniis mors est remedium, Sen. Ben. 7, 20, 3; Flor. 1, 7, 3; Val. Max. 3, 1, 2; Verg. G. 4, 492; Hor. Ep. 1, 2, 58: animus noster modo rex est. modo tyrannus; ubi impotens, cupidus, delicatus est, transit in nomen detestabile ac dirum, et fit tyrannus, Sen. Ep. 114, 24.—Gen. plur.: tyrannūm novi temeritudinem, Pac. ap. Non. 181, 23 (Trag. Rel. p. 79 Rib.: non tyrannum novi, as acc. sing.).