---
title: tyrant — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «tyrant» in the school dictionary: A tyrant is a ruler who uses power cruelly and unfairly and does not let people choose or change their leaders. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyrant/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [T](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/) / tyrant

# tyrant

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** tyrant, ruler, people, tyrant king, big sister, tyrants · **What happens:** be, use, not let, choose, change, boss · **To what, where:** ruler, power, people, leaders, anyone, others

<!-- .vabout -->
«tyrant» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [tyrant in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/tyrant.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tyrant is a ruler who uses power cruelly and unfairly and does not let people choose or change their leaders.

<!-- fold The tree, 21 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:m1:1
# text = A tyrant is a ruler who uses power cruelly and unfairly and does not let people choose or change their leaders.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
9	cruelly	cruelly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	unfairly	unfairly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	conj	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
13	does	do	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	15	advmod	_	_
15	let	let	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	conj	_	_
16	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
17	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	19	cc	_	_
19	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	17	conj	_	_
20	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	21	nmod:poss	_	_
21	leaders	leader	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tyrant | a ruler |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | present | a ruler | power |  |  |  | cruelly *property* | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent power=Patient |
| 3 | **not** **let** | present · do-support | a ruler *not said here* | people |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **choose** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **change** | infinitive | people *not said here* | people's leaders |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent leader=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A tyrant is anyone who bosses others about cruelly, such as a bossy boss, teacher or older sibling.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:m2:1
# text = A tyrant is anyone who bosses others about cruelly, such as a bossy boss, teacher or older sibling.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	bosses	boss	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	about	about	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	cruelly	cruelly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	15	case	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
14	bossy	bossy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	15	amod	_	_
15	boss	boss	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
17	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	_
18	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	20	cc	_	_
19	older	old	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	20	amod	_	_
20	sibling	sibling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a tyrant | anyone |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **boss** | present |  | others |  |  |  | about cruelly | vn captain-29.8-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent other=Beneficiary |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: history — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In ancient Greece a tyrant was a ruler who took power by force, not always cruel.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:m3:1
# text = In ancient Greece a tyrant was a ruler who took power by force, not always cruel.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	Greece	Greece	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	ruler	ruler	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	10	nsubj	_	_
10	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	_
11	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
12	by	by	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	force	force	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
16	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	17	advmod	_	_
17	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | a tyrant | a ruler |  | ancient Greece |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **take** | past | a ruler | power |  |  |  | by force | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent power=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The people rose up against the cruel tyrant.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:x1:1
# text = The people rose up against the cruel tyrant.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	rose	rise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	up	up	ADP	RP	_	3	compound:prt	_	_
5	against	against	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	cruel	cruel	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rise up** | past | the people |  |  | the cruel tyrant |  |  | vn assuming\_position-50 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Agent against tyrant=Location |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tyrant threw anyone who disagreed into prison.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:x2:1
# text = The tyrant threw anyone who disagreed into prison.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	threw	throw	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	anyone	anyone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	disagreed	disagree	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	prison	prison	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **throw** | past | the tyrant | anyone |  |  |  |  | vn throw-17.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent anyone=Theme |
| 2 | **disagree** | past |  |  |  | prison |  |  | vn correspond-36.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In the fairy tale, the tyrant king took all the farmers' food.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:x3:1
# text = In the fairy tale, the tyrant king took all the farmers' food.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	fairy	fairy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	tale	tale	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	4	punct	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	compound	_	_
8	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
9	took	take	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
10	all	all	DET	PDT	PronType=Tot	14	det:predet	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	farmers	farmer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	'	's	PART	POS	_	12	case	_	_
14	food	food	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | past | the tyrant king | the farmers's food |  | the fairy tale |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent food=Value in tale=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My big sister is a tyrant when it's her turn to choose the TV.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:x4:1
# text = My big sister is a tyrant when it's her turn to choose the TV.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	big	big	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sister	sister	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	11	advmod	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	cop	_	_
10	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	11	nmod:poss	_	_
11	turn	turn	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	_
12	to	to	PART	TO	_	13	mark	_	_
13	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	acl	_	_
14	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | My big sister | a tyrant |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present | tyrant | her turn |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **choose** | to-infinitive | My big sister *not said here* | the TV |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tv=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ancient Athens was once ruled by tyrants.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:x5:1
# text = Ancient Athens was once ruled by tyrants.
1	Ancient	ancient	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	Athens	Athens	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	once	once	ADV	RB	NumForm=Word|NumType=Mult	5	advmod	_	_
5	ruled	rule	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	by	by	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	tyrants	tyrant	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rule** | past · passive | tyrants | Ancient Athens |  |  |  | once *property* | vn dub-29.3.2 «NP V NP NP»: agent=Agent subject=Result |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Elections help stop a tyrant from taking power.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:x6:1
# text = Elections help stop a tyrant from taking power.
1	Elections	election	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	stop	stop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	taking	take	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
8	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Elections |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **stop** | infinitive | Elections *not said here* | a tyrant |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality tyrant=Eventuality |
| 3 | **take** | gerund | Elections *not said here* | power |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent power=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Tyrannosaurus rex means «tyrant lizard king».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:x7:1
# text = Tyrannosaurus rex means «tyrant lizard king».
1	Tyrannosaurus	Tyrannosaurus	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	rex	rex	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
6	lizard	lizard	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Tyrannosaurus rex | tyrant lizard king |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent king=Topic |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The tyrant can always find an excuse for his tyranny.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:tyrant:x8:1
# text = The tyrant can always find an excuse for his tyranny.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	tyrant	tyrant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
4	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	5	advmod	_	_
5	find	find	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	excuse	excuse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	for	for	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	10	nmod:poss	_	_
10	tyranny	tyranny	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **find** | can | the tyrant | a excuse |  |  |  | for tyrant's tyranny; always *property* | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP PP.beneficiary»: agent=Agent excuse=Theme for tyranny=Beneficiary |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [tyranny](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyranny/)
- next →: [tyre](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/tyre/)
- ↑ back to [T in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/)