draconian

adjective, often capitalized

dra·​co·​ni·​an | \ drā-ˈkō-nē-ən  , drə- \

Definition of draconian

1law : of, relating to, or characteristic of Draco or the severe code of laws held to have been framed by him2: CRUELalso: SEVERE

I’ve heard this word several times over the past week in reference to the Coronavirus outbreak and knew nothing of what it meant. So I decided it was time to do some research.

Draconian is an adjective meaning great severity, that derives from Draco, an Athenian law 

draconian (adj.)

1759, “of or pertaining to Draco,” the ancient Greek statesman; 1777, in reference to laws, “rigorous, extremely severe or harsh” (earlier Draconic, which is implied from 1640s). Draco is the Latinized form of Greek Drakon, name of the archon of Athens who laid down a code of laws for Athens c. 621 B.C.E. that mandated death as punishment for minor crimes. His name seems to mean literally “sharp-sighted”