demagogue English · revision 2352

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdɛməɡɑɡ/, /ˈdɛməɡɔɡ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|grc|δημαγωγός|tr=dēmagōgós|t=leader of the people, popular leader]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[af|grc|δῆμος|ἀγωγός|tr1=dêmos|tr2=agōgós|t1=people|t2=leading, leader]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) the latter from ''ágein'' “to lead”,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|ine-pro|*ag-|t=to drive, lead]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD) Its form may have been influenced by French ''démagogue''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==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).^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Barnhart notes that the earliest English sense was pejorative.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The historical sense, a popular leader of the people in an ancient state, is recorded slightly later (1651).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The Greek word was already often disparaging in 5th-century Athens,^(Etymonline) so the English word has nearly always meant a political panderer, a near reversal of the literal “leader of the people”.^(Etymonline) The verb, “to play the demagogue”, dates from 1656.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1648 – a mob leader who appeals to popular prejudice.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1651 – in ancient times, a leader of the people.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1656 – verb, to play the demagogue.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1831 – ''demagogic''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1855 – ''(US)'' ''demagoguery''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1890 – verb, to treat a matter like a demagogue.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A leader who gains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the people, often with false claims and promises.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In ancient times, a leader championing the cause of the common people.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To speak or act like a demagogue.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To treat an issue in a demagogic way, distorting it with emotion and prejudice.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[demagoguery]]

+ * [[demagogy]]

+ * [[demagogic]]

+ * [[demagogism]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pedagogue]]

+ * [[synagogue]]

+ * [[democracy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}