draconian

 
Pronunciation: /drəˈkəʊnɪən, dreɪ-/

adjective

  • (of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe: the Nazis destroyed the independence of the press by a series of draconian laws

Derivatives

draconic

Pronunciation: /-ˈkɒnɪk/
adjective

Origin:

late 19th century: from the name of Draco (see Draco2) + -ian