Dictionary

demonocracy en · NOUN

Etymology

From demono- + -cracy. The second sense is a pun on democracy. First use appears c. 1713.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A government by or of (supernatural) demons, such as the government which in some mythologies exists in Hell.
   • The effect of demonocracy in the wide world has become clear to you in some of the cases of the individual defendants. 2014, Bob Carruthers (editor), The Gestapo on Trial - Evidence from Nuremberg, page 303:
   • Demonocracy, the Government of Devils ... 1717, Elisha Coles, An English Dictionary - Explaining the Difficult Terms:
   • […] a magic book printed in 1612, in which the various dignitaries of the demonocracy are described according to their rank and position. 1904, Julius Goebel, “The Etymology of Mephistopheles”, in Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, volume 35, page 148:
   • Thus we see, that while the theological and doctrinal poet inaugurated male supremacy in the person of the godhead in heaven, of humanity on earth, and of demonocracy in hell, so did the philosopher propound the universal prevalence, and irresistable omnipotence, of the male principle throughout the whole of existence. 1848, Frances Wright, England, The Civilizer: Her History Developed in its Principles:
2. (countable, derogatory, uncountable) A democracy. (when regarded as resulting in, or being no better than, a government run by figurative demons (i.e., malevolent people), or when otherwise held in contempt).
   • Tuning in, turning on, and dropping out are the politics of demonocracy, the counsel of despair leaving the field to adversaries, […] 1971, Sidney J. Slomich, The American Nightmare, page 206:
   • 2005-06, Matthew Bellamy, "Assassin", Black Holes and Revelations Oppose and disagree, destroy demonocracy.

Forms

Relateds

dumbocracy