draconian

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The Word of the Day for February 21 is:

draconian   \dray-KOH-nee-un\   adjective, often capitalized 
     1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws 
held to have been framed by him
    *2 : cruel; also : severe

Example sentence:
     Sue contends that the city's steep fine for jaywalking is a draconian form 
of punishment.

Did you know?
     "Draconian" comes from "Draco," the name of a 7th-century B.C. Athenian 
legislator who created a written code of law. Draco's code was intended to 
clarify preexistent laws, but its severity is what made it really memorable. In 
Draco's code, even minor offenses were punishable by death, and failure to pay 
one's debts could result in slavery. "Draconian," as a result, became 
associated with things cruel or harsh. Something "draconian" need not always be 
as cruel as the laws in Draco's code, though -- today the word is used in a 
wide variety of ways and often refers to measures (steep parking fines, for 
example) that are relatively minor when compared with the death penalty.

*Indicates the sense illustrated by the example sentence. 





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