Monday, July 5, 2010

Word of the Day

Kakistocracy

–noun, plural -cies.
  • government by the worst persons; a form of government in which the worst persons are in power
  • Government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens.

Word origin and history...

1829, "government by the worst element of a society," coined on analogy of aristocracy  from Gk. kakistos  "worst," superl. of kakos  "bad" (which is perhaps related to the general IE word for "defecate") + -kratia  "rule of," from kratos  "strength, power, rule"

 Well - that sort of says it all...

2 comments:

Old Bob said...

Kakistocracy = government by people who have kaka for brains.

Reaganite Independent said...

That's a good one to know- superbly relevent