Sentence:  Ancient Greek tyrannies appeared once more in great numbers with the breakdown of the polis in the period from the fourth to the second centuries <nowiki>[</nowiki>BC<nowiki>]</nowiki>. These later tyrannies tended to rely on a more narrow class base and to use a brutal military rule, and thus writers could use the words <WSD>"tyrant</WSD>" and "tyranny", with their modern connotations of evil and cruelty, to describe them accurately. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A usurper; one who gains power and rules extralegally, distinguished from kings elevated by election or succession.