| a combining form occurring in loanwords from Greek (aristocracy; democracy); on this model used, with the meaning “rule,” “government,” “governing body,” to form abstract nouns from stems of other origin: mobocracy; bureaucracy. |
| -cracy suff. Government; rule: meritocracy. [French -cratie, from Old French, from Late Latin -cratia, from Greek -kratiā, from kratos, strength, power; see kar- in Indo-European roots.] |
