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Where does the word "draconian" come from? It comes from Greek Drakon, and was adopted directly into English (1810s).
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Where does the word "draconian" come from? It comes from Greek Drakon, and was adopted directly into English (1810s).
Draconian’s story begins in Greek: Drakon meant “a lawmaker's name.” An Athenian lawmaker whose legal code was famous for its extreme severity. It reached English by 1810s as draconian. Coined for laws or measures of excessive harshness. Today, draconian means excessively harsh or severe, especially referring to laws or punishment.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient Drakon "a lawmaker's name", an Athenian lawmaker whose legal code was famous for its extreme severity.
- Stage 2 · English · 1810s draconian "excessively harsh or severe", coined for laws or measures of excessive harshness.