In modern usage a tyrant is a single ruler holding vast, if not absolute power through a state or in an organization. The term carries connotations of a harsh and cruel ruler who places his/her own interests or the interests of a small oligarchy over the best interests of the general population which they govern or control. This mode of rule is referred to as tyranny. Many individual rulers or government officials are accused of tyranny, with the label almost always a matter of controversy. The word derives from [LINK: Latin] [1] tyrannus, and from Greek ???????? tyrannos, meaning "illegitimate ruler". There may be a connection with the biblical Hebrew word seren, which means "captain of the Philistines": see Philistine language (and which is used as a military rank in contemporary Israel). Historical forms In ancient Greece, tyrants were influential opportunists that ca

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