Question of the Day #75

"Donald Trump ushers in a new era of kakistocracy"
from the New Statesman

上記の文で、kakistocracyの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "kakistocracy" mean?

答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

---

解答

意味： 英辞郎によると、


悪徳政治

となっているが、下記Merriam-Websterの英文の定義を見てわかるように、ただの「悪徳政治」ではなく、the worst peopleによる政治です。

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

government by the worst people

Etymology/語源

Online Etymology Dictionaryによると、

1829初出。aristocracyの反意語的なニュアンスで生まれた単語で、「社会における最悪の要員による政府」の意味。ギリシア語のkakos（悪い）の最上級kakitos（最悪） より。

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary:

1829, "government by the worst element of a society," coined on analogy of its opposite, aristocracy, from Greek kakistos "worst," superlative of kakos "bad"

Examples

• Burt Wheeler arrived in Washington as a Senator in 1923, when the backwash of war and prohibition had brought America about as near to kakistocracy as it has ever come.
• It was evident that democracy had bloomed as it always did when forcibly planted, in a kakistocracy of the worst possible men.
• Since it takes the worst type of person to become a successful politician, all democracies will eventually become kakistocracies.
• American government under the Bush administration portrays a perfect example of a kakistocracy in all its ignorant, trigger happy, private-interest-driven glory.