draconian

C2 Topic:Law & Government
US /dɹəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/ UK /dɹəˈkəʊ.ni.ən/
adj Freq #42528

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    of or relating to Draco or his harsh code of laws

    Draconian measures.

  2. 2
    adj

    Very severe, cruel, or harsh.

    The mayor announced draconian budget cuts today.

  3. 3
    adj

    Of, relating to, characteristic of, or resembling a dragon.

    The dragon came low to the earth. It defied every image of a draconian being Kulp had ever seen.

  4. 4
    adj

    Of or relating to Draco, the first legislator of Athens in Ancient Greece.

    As to the details of the Draconian constitution, it is certainly surprising to find so many institutions and offices referred to, which had hitherto been only known to exist at a later date.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
2 adj · very severe, cruel, or harsh. draconicdraconicalorwellianrigidrigorousstrictstringent
3 adj · of, relating to,... draconicdraconicaldraconinedragonesquedragonishdragonlikedragony

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”).

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