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 existing laws, but its severity is
what made it really memorable. According to the 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 especially authoritative actions
that are viewed as cruel or harsh.
Amity comes from the Latin word
for "friend," amicus, and is used especially for relationships
between political leaders and nations in which goodwill is shown despite
differences that might exist between the two parties. Amicus is also the root
of the adjectives amiable and amicable.
Trepidation: comes from the Latin
verb trepidare, which means "to tremble." Early meanings of
trepidation, such as "tremulous motion" or "tremor,"
reflect that origin; those are followed by the word's sense of
"apprehension."
