James Hrynyshyn is a freelance science journalist based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
Last night in Washington DC was held the 80th annual Scripps Spelling Bee. I love watching 8th-graders spell words they (and I) have never heard before. Two items of interest arose. First, the runner-up, for the second year in a row, was a Canadian, Nate Gartke of Alberta. Second, the favorite difficult word of another finalist, Isabel A. Jacobson of Wsconsin, is kakistocracy. What a marvellous word.
NOUN: Inflected forms: pl. kak·is·toc·ra·cies Government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens.
Never has there been a word so timely yet so underused.
Comments
Motion seconded!
Posted by: jokermage | June 1, 2007 3:09 PM
Lexicographer needed! Pray detail the derivation of this excellent word. I have been using "kleptocracy" as a term for this administration. It has traction because of the popular understanding of "kleptomania". Hence to describe members of the admin as a "band of kleptons" is "good" and has a touch of horror movie flavour. May a khaki- develop enough tread to climb a hill?
Posted by: Skeptic8 | June 2, 2007 1:17 AM
Whoops! Wrong button; strike that errant "h".
Posted by: Skeptic8 | June 2, 2007 1:19 AM
Etymology of kakistocracy:
kakistocracy. Dictionary.com. Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/kakistocracy (accessed: June 02, 2007)
Word coined 1829, "government by the worst element of a society," coined on analogy of aristocracy from Greek kakistos "worst," superl. of kakos "bad" (which is perhaps related to the general IE word for "defecate") + -kratia "rule of," from kratos "strength, power, rule" (see -cracy).
Posted by: Luna_the_cat | June 2, 2007 11:21 AM
A loud Purrr-r for Luna.
Perhaps we can construct a fecal flavored pejorative for the Bush appointees (worst) that coincides with with the thieves that advised their appointment.
Kakistan-on-the-Potomac for the RNC? No, no. That is Klepton territory. Kakisian economics? No, the kleptocracy rules economic theory from the Enterprise Institute.
Heckuva kakiester, Brownie?
Posted by: Skeptic8 | June 3, 2007 8:01 PM
Some etymologically-inclined friends and I came up with the combined term "kleptoplutokakistocracy" to describe the current administration after it managed to re-install itself. Not sure if it's legal, but for sure it's accurate....
Posted by: tamram | June 5, 2007 12:29 PM
Blimey! Tamram, that's poetic and accurate.
Rich thieves ruling thru incompetents- or would that be "incompetence"?
Are they goin' to drop Libby down the hole? If he gets the royal pardon can we call the rest of the rogues "unpardoned co-conspirators?
Posted by: Skeptic8 | June 6, 2007 1:16 AM
Wow, that is a great word! Thank you.
Posted by: Stupid Git | June 19, 2007 7:06 AM
One small comment about your original post: participants in spelling bees are typically given a list of words in advance from which the contest words are taken.
Posted by: Bruce | June 27, 2007 6:07 PM