Where does “demagogue” come from?
Demagogue comes from Middle French démagogue, from Ancient Greek δημαγωγός, combining δῆμος (people) and ἀγωγός (leader), from ἄγω (to lead).
demagogue (English): A political orator or leader who gains favor by...
Definitions
- A political orator or leader who gains favor by...
Ancestry of “demagogue”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | démagogue | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | δημαγωγός | a popular leader |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | δῆμος | district, country, land; the common people; free... |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | γράφω | to scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | grəpʰō | to scratch, cut or carve into |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gerbʰ- | to carve |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ger- | to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind... |