draconian
UK /dɹəˈkəʊ.ni.ən/ · US /dɹəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/ adjective, noun
Forms draconians
- adjective Very severe, cruel, or harsh. “The mayor announced draconian budget cuts today.”
- adjective (obsolete, except in fiction) Of, relating to, characteristic of, or resembling a dragon.
- noun (fiction) A creature resembling a dragon.
- adjective Of or relating to Draco, the first legislator of Athens in Ancient Greece.
Synonyms
draconic draconical Orwellian rigid rigorous strict stringent draconine dragonesque dragonish dragonlike dragony
Etymology
From Latin Dracō (stem Dracōn-) + -ian, from Ancient Greek Δράκων (Drákōn), after the Athenian lawmaker Draco, known for making harsh laws. See δράκων (drákōn, “dragon”).
From Latin dracō (“dragon”) (stem dracōn-) + -ian.
From Latin Dracō (stem Dracōn-) + -ian.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “draconian”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details