oligarchy English · revision 928

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɒlɪˌɡɑːki/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɑlɪˌɡɑɹki/, /ˈoʊlɪˌɡɑɹki/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|oligarchie]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from Medieval Latin ''oligarchia'',^(RHWU) [[der|grc|ὀλιγαρχία|tr=oligarkhía|t=government by the few]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) [[af|grc|ὀλίγος|-αρχία|tr1=olígos|tr2=-arkhía|t1=few|t2=rule]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) An earlier form ''oligracie'' was borrowed from Old French about 1500.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Government by the few, a form of government in which power is confined to a few persons or families (1542 in Merriam-Webster; 1577 in the OED and Barnhart).^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Aristotle defined oligarchy as rule by the rich and well born, who are few, as opposed to democracy, rule by the free and poor majority.^(Etymonline) The word also names the small group that rules and the state so ruled.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary) From 1933 it was extended to any organization controlled by a small group.^(OED 1989) ''Oligarch'' is recorded before 1610.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1500 – ''oligracie''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1542 – Merriam-Webster's date.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1577 – government by the few.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * before 1610 – ''oligarch''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1933 – any organization ruled by a small group.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Government by a few people, especially by a small faction of persons or families, often for corrupt or selfish purposes.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The people who make up such a government.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A state or organization governed by a few.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[oligarchic]]

+ * [[oligarch]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[oligopoly]]

+ * [[monarchy]]

+ * [[anarchy]]

+ * [[plutocracy]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}