Many, many thanks to Anu Garg, founder of wordsmith.org for the inspiration behind – and 100% of the content contained in – today’s post. Sign up for his A Word A Day email – you’ll be glad you did!

kakistocracy

PRONUNCIATION:
(kak-i-STOK-ruh-see, kah-ki-) Listen to it pronounced here.

MEANING:
noun: Government by the least qualified or worst persons.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek kakistos (worst), superlative of kakos (bad) + -cracy (rule). Ultimately from the Indo-European root kakka-/kaka- (to defecate), which also gave us poppycock, cacophony, cacology, and cacography. Earliest documented use: 1829.

USAGE:
“We must weigh our votes carefully. Else we are in danger of turning America’s time-tested democracy into a kakistocracy.” Dan Warner; The Best Man for the Job Is Not as Easy as it Sounds; The News Press (Fort Myers, Florida); 17 JAN 2016.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
“No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed, and love of power.” P.J. O’Rourke, writer (b. 14 NOV 1947)