democratic English · revision 3740

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1602|origins=grc δῆμος, grc κράτος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˌdem.əˈkræt.ɪk/, US /ˌdem.əˈkræt̬.ɪk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|democratique]] (French démocratique),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) from [[la-med|democraticus]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[grc|δημοκρατικός|tr=dēmokratikós|t=of or for democracy]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|grc|δημοκρατία|tr=dēmokratía|t=popular government]],^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|grc|δῆμος|tr=dêmos|t=the people]] and [[m|grc|κράτος|tr=krátos|t=power, rule]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[democracy]] and [[democrat]].^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of the nature of democracy: 1602 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1600 in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The earlier adjectives were democratian (1570s) and democratical (1580s).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As the name of a political faction it is from 1790, of France.^(Etymonline) In American politics, with a capital D, it is from about 1800:^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) the party, first the Anti-Federal party, then the Democratic-Republican, formed among those opposed to extensive powers for the federal government, and its name was formally shortened to Democratic only in 1829.^(Etymonline) ''Democratic socialism'' is from 1849.^(Etymonline) The sense “egalitarian, for the people in general” followed from the political meaning.^(AHD)^(COED 2004)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1570s – ''democratian''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – ''democratical''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1602 – ''democratic''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1790 – a French political faction.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1800 – the American Democratic party.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1829 – the party name shortened to Democratic.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1849 – ''democratic socialism''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, supporting or based on [[democracy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Of or for the people in general; popular.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Believing in or practising social [[equality]]; [[egalitarian]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(COED 2004)

+ # ''Democratic'': of the [[Democratic Party]] of the United States.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[democratically]]

+ * [[antidemocratic]]

+ * [[hyperdemocratic]]

+ * [[nondemocratic]]

+ * [[predemocratic]]

+ * [[prodemocratic]]

+ * [[superdemocratic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[democracy]]

+ * [[democrat]]

+ * [[democratize]]

+ * [[demagogue]]

+ * [[demography]]

+ * [[epidemic]]

+ * [[bureaucratic]]

+ * [[aristocratic]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}