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Where does the word "plutocracy" come from? It comes from Greek ploutos, and was adopted directly into English (1650s).
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Where does the word "plutocracy" come from? It comes from Greek ploutos, and was adopted directly into English (1650s).
Plutocracy’s story begins in Greek: ploutos meant “wealth, riches.” Wealth, riches, combined with kratos (power). It reached English by 1650s as plutocracy. Settled as the English word for government by the wealthy. Today, plutocracy means a society or system governed or controlled by the wealthy.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient ploutos "wealth, riches", wealth, riches, combined with kratos (power).
- Stage 2 · English · 1650s plutocracy "government or control by the wealthy", settled as the English word for government by the wealthy.