democrat English · revision 6552

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1789|origins=grc δῆμος, grc κράτος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɛməkɹæt/; /ˈdɪməkɹæt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|démocrate]], formed from [[m|fr|démocratie|t=democracy]] (see [[democracy]]) on the model of aristocrate, aristocrat.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An adherent of democracy, originally an opponent of the aristocrats in the French Revolution: 1790 in Etymonline and the OED,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) 1789 in MWU.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the United States it was revived as a party name, with a capital D, in 1798,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and a Democrat is now a member or supporter of the Democratic Party.^(Collins 2023) The shortening ''Demo'' (1793) is older than ''Dem'' (about 1840).^(Etymonline) An earlier word for a supporter of democracy was democratian (1650s).^(Etymonline) In the US a democrat was also a light four-wheeled cart with seats one behind the other (1890).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1650s – democratian.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1790 – an advocate of democracy.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1798 – a member of the US Democratic Party.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1890 – a democrat wagon.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who supports [[democracy]] or the principle of social equality.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''Democrat'': a member or supporter of the [[Democratic Party]] in the United States.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[antidemocrat]]

+ * [[social democrat]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[democracy]]

+ * [[democratic]]

+ * [[aristocrat]]

+ * [[autocrat]]

+ * [[demagogue]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}