demagogue

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/ (UK); /ˈdɛməɡɑɡ/, /ˈdɛməɡɔɡ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek δημαγωγός (dēmagōgós, “leader of the people, popular leader”),^{[2][3][4][5][6]} from Ancient Greek δῆμος (dêmos, “people”) + ἀγωγός (agōgós, “leading, leader”),^[2][3][4][5] the latter from ágein “to lead”,^[2][3][4][5] from Proto-Indo-European *ag- (“to drive, lead”).^[5][2] Its form may have been influenced by French démagogue.^[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In a bad sense, a leader of a popular faction or of the mob; an agitator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of the people (1648).^[7][3][4][5] Barnhart notes that the earliest English sense was pejorative.^[4]

Semantic evolution

The historical sense, a popular leader of the people in an ancient state, is recorded slightly later (1651).^[7][5] The Greek word was already often disparaging in 5th-century Athens,^[5] so the English word has nearly always meant a political panderer, a near reversal of the literal “leader of the people”.^[5] The verb, “to play the demagogue”, dates from 1656.^[7][3][5]

Timeline

• 1648 – a mob leader who appeals to popular prejudice.^[7][3][4]
• 1651 – in ancient times, a leader of the people.^[7][5]
• 1656 – verb, to play the demagogue.^[7][3]
• 1831 – demagogic.^[4]
• 1855 – (US) demagoguery.^[4]
• 1890 – verb, to treat a matter like a demagogue.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. A leader who gains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the people, often with false claims and promises.
2. In ancient times, a leader championing the cause of the common people.

Verb

1. To speak or act like a demagogue.
2. To treat an issue in a demagogic way, distorting it with emotion and prejudice.

Word family

• demagoguery
• demagogy
• demagogic
• demagogism

Related words

• pedagogue
• synagogue
• democracy

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f g Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press