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apparatchik - 3 dictionary results

ap⋅pa⋅rat⋅chik

  [ah-puh-rah-chik; Russ. uh-puh-raht-chyik]
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–noun, plural -chiks; Russian. -chi⋅ki  [-chyi-kyee] .
a member of an apparat, esp. in a Communist country.
Origin:
1940–45; < Russ apparátchik, equiv. to apparát apparat + -chik agent suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ap·pa·ra·tchik   (ä'pə-rä'chĭk)   
n.   pl. ap·pa·ra·tchiks or ap·pa·ra·tchi·ki (-chĭ-kē)
  1. A member of a Communist apparat.
  2. An unquestioningly loyal subordinate, especially of a political leader or organization.

[Russian, from apparat, apparat; see apparat.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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apparatchik 
"Communist agent or spy," 1941, originally in writings of Arthur Koestler, from Rus., from apparat "political organization," from Ger. apparat "apparatus, instrument," from L. apparatus (see apparatus).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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