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autarchy

[aw-tahr-kee]
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noun, plural au·tar·chies.
  1. absolute sovereignty.
  2. an autocratic government.
  3. autarky.
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Origin of autarchy

First recorded in 1655–65, autarchy is from the Greek word autarchía self-rule. See aut-, -archy
Related formsau·tar·chic, au·tar·chi·cal, adjectiveau·tar·chi·cal·ly, adverbau·tar·chist, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for autarchic

Historical Examples

  • At a very small scale of existence, such as autarchic existence, the means were very simple, and very few.

    The Civilization of Illiteracy

    Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for autarchic

autarchy1

noun plural -chies
  1. unlimited rule; autocracy
  2. self-government; self-rule
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Derived Formsautarchic or autarchical, adjective

Word Origin

C17: from Greek autarkhia, from autarkhos autocratic; see auto-, -archy

autarchy2

noun plural -chies
  1. a variant spelling (now rare) of autarky
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for autarchic

autarchy

n.

1660s, "absolute sovereignty," from Greek autarkhia, from autarkhein "to be an absolute ruler," from autos "self" (see auto-) + arkhein "to rule" (see archon).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper