timocracy

American  

[tahy-mok-ruh-see] / taɪˈmɒk rə si /

noun

timocracies plural

1. a form of government in which love of honor is the dominant motive of the rulers.

2. a form of government in which a certain amount of property is requisite as a qualification for office.

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timocracy British  

/ ˌtaɪməˈkrætɪk, taɪˈmɒkrəsɪ /

noun

1. a political unit or system in which possession of property serves as the first requirement for participation in government

2. a political unit or system in which love of honour is deemed the guiding principle of government

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• timocratical
  adjective
• timocratic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• timocracies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of timocracy

First recorded in 1580–90; earlier timocratie, from French or directly from Greek tīmokratía, equivalent to tīmo- (combining form of tīmḗ “honor, worth”) + -kratia combining form meaning “government”; see origin at -cracy

Example Sentences

Proud is Harvard of sons who have become famed financiers and economists, stalwart foundation piles of the U. S. timocracy and foreign financial affairs.

From Time Magazine Archive

The PISISTRATIDS.—The government of Athens, framed by Solon, was in effect a "timocracy," or rule of the rich.

From Outline of Universal History by Fisher, George Park

The democratic constitution was abolished, and a timocracy established, on the surrender of Athens to Antipater, at the end of the Lamian War, in the autumn of 322.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 2 "Constantine Pavlovich" to "Convention" by Various

The accumulation of gold in the treasury of private individuals is the ruin of timocracy; they invent illegal modes of expenditure; for what do they or their wives care about the law?

From The Republic by Jowett, Benjamin

Thus arises timocracy, which is intermediate between aristocracy and oligarchy.

From The Republic by Jowett, Benjamin