Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gerontocracy” come from?

gerontocracy (English) comes from English geronto-, from Ancient Greek γέρων, from Proto-Hellenic *géronts.

gerontocracy (English): Government by elders

Definitions

  1. Government by elders

Ancestry of “gerontocracy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishgeronto-Pertaining to old age or elderly people
2Ancient Greekγέρωνan old man; elders, i.e. a ruling or advisory...
3Proto-Hellenic*géronts—
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *géronts →