draconian

WOTD – 16 May 2009    

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /drəˈkəʊ.ni.ən/, /drækˈəʊ.ni.ən/, X-SAMPA: /dr@"k@U.ni.@n/, /dr{k"@U.ni.@n/
• (US) enPR: drə-kō'ni-ən, IPA: /drəˈkoʊ.ni.ən/, X-SAMPA: /dr@"koU.ni.@n/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊniən

Etymology 1

From the Athenian lawmaker Draco, known for making harsh laws.

Adjective

draconian (comparative more draconian, superlative most draconian)

1. Very severe, oppressive or strict.

   The despot chose a draconian punishment.

   The Soviet regime was draconian.

   The mayor announced draconian budget cuts today.

Synonyms

• (very severe): cruel, hard, harsh, oppressive, rigid, strict, stringent

Translations

severe, oppressive or strict

• Arabic: دراكونية (نسبة إلى قوانين دراكو اليونانية القديمة)، شديدة القسوة، صارمة. (ar)
• Armenian: դրակոնյան (hy) (drakonyan)
• Catalan: draconià (ca)
• Czech: drakonický (cs)
• Finnish: erittäin ankara, drakoninen (fi)
• French: draconien (fr)
• German: drakonisch (de)

• Greek: δρακόντειος (el) (drakóntios)
• Hungarian: drákói (hu)
• Italian: draconiano (it)
• Macedonian: драконски (mk) (drákonski) m
• Portuguese: draconiano (pt)
• Russian: драконовский (ru) (drakónovskij)
• Spanish: draconiano (es)
• Swedish: drakonisk (sv)

Etymology 2

From Latin draco (“dragon”)

Adjective

draconian (comparative more draconian, superlative most draconian)

1. (obsolete, except in fiction) Of or resembling a dragon
   • 2006, Steven Erikson, Deadhouse Gates, Book Two, ISBN 0765348799, page 384:

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

Synonyms

• (resembling a dragon): draconic, dragonlike

Translations

of or resembling a dragon

• Macedonian: змејски (mk) (zméjski) m

Anagrams

• Conradian