oligarchy, oligarch
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 6:36 am
1. Government by the few, 2. those making up such a faction, 3. a state governed by such a faction. An "oligarch" is a member of an oligarchy. Currently "oligarch" refers to an individual whose substantial funds allow that individual to influence governmental actions in a manner that increases those already substantial funds.
"Oligarchy" was first used in English at around 1600 and is derived from Greek "olig," "few, little" (from PIE "leig," "poor") + "-arch" referring to "ruler, leader" such seen in "matriarch" from Middle English "-arche" from Old French, from Late Latin "-arches" (the "e" has a macron over it), from Greek "-arkes" again with a macron on the "e"), from "arkhos" ruler, from "arkhein" "to rule" from PIE "arkhein" "to begin, rule, command." Seen in "archives," "autarchy" and perhaps "archiphoneme."
"Oligarchy" was first used in English at around 1600 and is derived from Greek "olig," "few, little" (from PIE "leig," "poor") + "-arch" referring to "ruler, leader" such seen in "matriarch" from Middle English "-arche" from Old French, from Late Latin "-arches" (the "e" has a macron over it), from Greek "-arkes" again with a macron on the "e"), from "arkhos" ruler, from "arkhein" "to rule" from PIE "arkhein" "to begin, rule, command." Seen in "archives," "autarchy" and perhaps "archiphoneme."