English
timocracy
Timocracy comes from Ancient Greek τῑμοκρατίᾱ, from τῑμή ‘valuation’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷey- ‘to perceive’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷey-‘to perceive’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτῑ́ω‘to pay honour to a person’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτῑμήtīmḗ‘valuation’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτῑμοκρατίᾱtīmokratíā
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600tymocracie
- Englishtodaytimocracy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷey-‘to perceive’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEτῑ́ω‘to pay honour to a person’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτῑμήtīmḗ‘valuation’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEτῑμοκρατίᾱtīmokratíā
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600tymocracie
- Englishtodaytimocracy
The story
1580s, from Middle French tymocracie, from Medieval Latin (13th century) timocratia, from Ancient Greek τῑμοκρατίᾱ (tīmokratíā), from τῑμή (tīmḗ, “valuation; honor”) + -κρατίᾱ (-kratíā, “a rule, reign”), from κρατέω (kratéō, “to rule”) (see -cracy).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kʷey- ‘to perceive’
pain, penalty, poetry, punishment, poem, poet, pine, punish, penal, titanium, subpoena, punitive, whey, impunity, onomatopoeia, 21 more
Today it means
noun A form of government in which ambition for honor, power and military glory motivates the rulers.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kʷey- / timocracy