Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "anarchy" come from? It comes from Greek anarkhia, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "anarchy" come from? It comes from Greek anarkhia, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).
Anarchy’s story begins in Greek: anarkhia meant “absence of a ruler.” Literally without a ruler. It reached English by 1500s as anarchy. Settled as the word for a society without government. Today, anarchy means a state of disorder due to absence of authority.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient anarkhia "absence of a ruler", literally without a ruler.
- Stage 2 · English · 1500s anarchy "absence of government or order", settled as the word for a society without government.