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WOTD – 24 January 2017

From Ancient Greek κάκιστος (kákistos, “worst”), superlative of κακός (kakós, “bad”) +‎ -κρατία (-kratía, “power, rule, government”). The word was used, perhaps re-coined, by the English author Thomas Love Peacock (1785–1866) in his 1829 novella The Misfortunes of Elphin as the opposite of aristocracy (see the quotation).

kakistocracy (plural kakistocracies)

government by the worst citizens

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 ===Etymology===
-[[File:Thomas Love Peacock by Henry Wallis.jpg|thumb|The word ''kakistocracy'' was used by English author {{w|Thomas Love Peacock}} (1785–1866) ''(pictured)'' in his 1829 [[novella]] ''{{w|The Misfortunes of Elphin}}''. The portrait of Peacock, by [[Pre-Raphaelite]] artist {{w|Henry Wallis}} (1830–1916), is in the collection of the [[w:National Portrait Gallery, London|National Portrait Gallery]], [[London]], [[England]], UK.]]
 From {{der|en|grc|κάκιστος||[[worst]]}}, [[Appendix:Glossary#superlative|superlative]] of {{affix|grc|κακός|-κρατία|gloss1=[[bad]]|gloss2=[[power#Noun|power]], [[rule#Noun|rule]], [[government]]|nocat=1}}. The word was used, perhaps re-coined, by the English author {{w|Thomas Love Peacock}} (1785–1866) in his 1829 [[novella]] ''{{w|The Misfortunes of Elphin}}'' as the opposite of {{m|en|aristocracy}} (see the quotation).