n.; pl. Aristocracies [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; best + &unr_; to be strong, to rule, &unr_; strength; &unr_; is perh. from the same root as E. arm, and orig. meant fitting: cf. F. aristocratie. See Arm, and Create, which is related to Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. Government by the best citizens. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A ruling body composed of the best citizens. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In the Senate
Right not our quest in this, I will protest them
To all the world, no aristocracy. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A form a government, in which the supreme power is vested in the principal persons of a state, or in a privileged order; an oligarchy. [ 1913 Webster ]

The aristocracy of Venice hath admitted so many abuses, trough the degeneracy of the nobles, that the period of its duration seems approach. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The nobles or chief persons in a state; a privileged class or patrician order; (in a popular use) those who are regarded as superior to the rest of the community, as in rank, fortune, or intellect. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. aristocrate. See Aristocracy. ] 1. One of the aristocracy or people of rank in a community; one of a ruling class; a noble. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who is overbearing in his temper or habits; a proud or haughty person. [ 1913 Webster ]

A born aristocrat, bred radical. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who favors an aristocracy as a form of government, or believes the aristocracy should govern. [ 1913 Webster ]

His whole family are accused of being aristocrats. Romilly. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. aristocratique. ] 1. Of or pertaining to an aristocracy; consisting in, or favoring, a government of nobles, or principal men; as, an aristocratic constitution. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Partaking of aristocracy; befitting aristocracy; characteristic of, or originating with, the aristocracy; as, an aristocratic measure; aristocratic pride or manners. -- Ar`is*to*crat"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Ar`is*to*crat"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The principles of aristocrats. Romilly. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Aristocrats, collectively. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Autocracies. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. autocratie. See Autocrat. ] 1. Independent or self-derived power; absolute or controlling authority; supremacy. [ 1913 Webster ]

The divine will moves, not by the external impulse or inclination of objects, but determines itself by an absolute autocracy. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Supreme, uncontrolled, unlimited authority, or right of governing in a single person, as of an autocrat. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Political independence or absolute sovereignty (of a state); autonomy. Barlow. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) The action of the vital principle, or of the instinctive powers, toward the preservation of the individual; also, the vital principle. [ In this sense, written also autocrasy. ] Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; self + &unr_; strength, &unr_; strong: cf. F. autocrate. See Hard, a. ] 1. An absolute sovereign; a monarch who holds and exercises the powers of government by claim of absolute right, not subject to restriction; as, Autocrat of all the Russias (a title of the Czar). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who rules with undisputed sway in any company or relation; a despot. [ 1913 Webster ]

The autocrat of the breakfast table. Holmes. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to autocracy or to an autocrat; absolute; holding independent and arbitrary powers of government. -- Au`to*crat"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] An autocrat. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to an autocrator; absolute. [ Obs. ] Bp. Pearson. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. ] A female sovereign who is independent and absolute; -- a title given to the empresses of Russia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The office or dignity of an autocrat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Democracies [ F. démocratie, fr. Gr. dhmokrati`a; dh^mos the people + kratei^n to be strong, to rule, kra`tos strength. ] 1. Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. démocrate. ] 1. One who is an adherent or advocate of democracy, or government by the people. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whatever they call him, what care I,
Aristocrat, democrat, autocrat. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ capitalized ] A member of the Democratic party. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A large light uncovered wagon with two or more seats. [ U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. démocratique. ] 1. Pertaining to democracy; favoring democracy, or constructed upon the principle of government by the people. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. belonging to or relating to the Democratic party, the political party so called. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Befitting the common people; -- opposed to aristocratic. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Democratic party, the name of one of the chief political parties in the United States. Presidents of the United States who belonged to the Democratic party in the twentieth century were Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. Democratic. [ 1913 Webster ]

The democratical embassy was democratically received. Algernon Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a democratic manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The principles or spirit of a democracy. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A democrat. [ R. ] Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>v. t. To render democratic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Democracy. [ Obs. ] Milton.

n. [ Gr. dai`mwn demon + kra`tos strength: cf. F. démonocratie. ] The power or government of demons. [ 1913 Webster ]

A demonocracy of unclean spirits. H. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. doy^los slave + kratei^n to rule. ] A government by slaves. [ Written also dulocracy. ] Hare. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Doulocracy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, an old man + &unr_; to rule. ] Government by old men. [ R. ] Gladstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Gyneocracy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gynaikokrati`a; gynh`, gynaiko`s, a woman + kratei^n to rule: cf. F. gynécocratie. Cf. Gynocracy. ] Government by a woman, female power; gyneocracy. Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Gynecocracy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Gynecocracy. ] Female government; gynecocracy. [ 1913 Webster ]

The aforesaid state has repeatedly changed from absolute despotism to republicanism, not forgetting the intermediate stages of oligarchy, limited monarchy, and even gynocracy; for I myself remember Alsatia governed for nearly nine months by an old fishwoman. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. "a`gios holy, and kratei^n to govern.] Government by a priesthood; hierarchy. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. "iero`s sacred + &unr_; to be strong, rule.] Government by ecclesiastics; a hierarchy. Jefferson.

n. [ F. hippocras, hypocras, NL. vinum hippocraticum, lit., wine of Hippocrates. ] A cordial made of spiced wine, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A famous Greek physician and medical writer, born in Cos, about 460 b. c. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hippocrates' sleeve, a conical strainer, made by stitching together two adjacent sides of a square piece of cloth, esp. flannel of linen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Hippocrates, or to his teachings. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hippocratic face [ L. facies Hippocratica ], the change produced in the countenance by death, or long sickness, excessive evacuations, excessive hunger, and the like. The nose is pinched, the eyes are sunk, the temples hollow, the ears cold and retracted, the skin of the forehead tense and dry, the complexion livid, the lips pendent, relaxed, and cold; -- so called, as having been described by Hippocrates. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

An oath said to have been dictated by Hippocrates to his disciples. Such an oath is still administered to candidates for graduation in medicine. [ PJC ]

☞ An English translation of the oath reads:

I swear by Apollo the physician, by Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that according to my ability and my judgement, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation -- to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this Art, if they wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others.

I will follow that system or regimen which, according to my ability and judgement, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.

I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion.

With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons labouring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further, from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves.

Whatever, in connection with my professional service, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret.

While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the Art, respected by all men, in all times. But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot.

n. The medical philosophy or system of Hippocrates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. hypo- + krath`r cup + -form. ] (Bot.) hypocraterimorphous; salver-shaped. Wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. hypo- + Gr. krath`r bowl + morfh` form. ] (Bot.) Salver-shaped; having a slender tube, expanding suddenly above into a bowl-shaped or spreading border, as in the blossom of the phlox and the lilac. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. ] Idiocracy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Idiocrasies [ Idio- + Gr. kra^sis a mixture, fr. &unr_; to mix: cf. F. idiocrasie. ] Peculiarity of constitution; that temperament, or state of constitution, which is peculiar to a person; idiosyncrasy.

{ } a. Peculiar in constitution or temperament; idiosyncratic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. e'i^dos form + kra^sis mixture, from keranny`nai to mix; cf. F. idocrase. ] (Min.) Same as Vesuvianite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Hippocras. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Jesuit + -cracy, as in aristocracy. ] Government by Jesuits; also, the whole body of Jesuits in a country. [ R. ] C. Kingsley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. ka`kistos worst + kratei^n to rule. ] Government by the worst men. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A genus of East African antelopes including the gerenuks.
Syn. -- genus Litocranius. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Mediocre. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A form of social system in which power goes to those with superior intellects. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. The belief that rulers should be chosen for their superior abilities and not because of their wealth or birth. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. Of or pertaining to meritocracy; as, meritocratic society. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Mob rabble + -cracy, as in democracy. ] A condition in which the lower classes of a nation control public affairs without respect to law, precedents, or vested rights. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is good name that Dr. Stevens has given to our present situation (for one can not call it a government), a mobocracy. Walpole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who favors a form of government in which the unintelligent populace rules without restraint. Bayne. [ 1913 Webster ]