draconian English · revision 2458

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɹəˈkəʊniən/ ''(UK)''; /dɹəˈkoʊniən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the name of Draco,^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[la|Dracō]], from [[grc|Δράκων|tr=Drákōn]],^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) the Athenian lawgiver whose code of about 621 BCE prescribed death even for minor crimes.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) His name seems to mean literally “sharp-sighted”, and is the same word as Greek ''drákōn'' “dragon”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or relating to Draco (1759).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ By 1777 the word was applied to laws in the sense “rigorous, extremely harsh”, replacing the earlier ''Draconic''.^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1775 and the OED's quotation is from 1876.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) It is now used of any measures, penalties or rules thought excessively severe, and is often written with a small letter.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1640s – the earlier form ''Draconic'' is implied.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1759 – of or relating to Draco.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1775 – first date given by Merriam-Webster.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1777 – of laws, extremely severe.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1819 – ''Draconianism''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Extremely harsh or severe.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Relating to Draco or his code of laws.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Draconianism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dragon]]

+ * [[Draconic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}