oligarchy

Where does the word "oligarchy" come from? It comes from Greek oligoi, and was adopted directly into English (1570s).

Oligarchy’s story begins in Greek: oligoi meant “few.” Few, combined with arkhein (to rule). It reached English by 1570s as oligarchy. Settled as the English word for government by a small group of people. Today, oligarchy means a system of government or control by a small group of people.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient oligoi "few", few, combined with arkhein (to rule).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1570s oligarchy "government by a small group of people", settled as the English word for government by a small group of people.