Etymo

anarchy

An absence of governing authority; also a political ideal.

Played on · Day 12 · word 1 of 5

Without a leader.

How anarchy reached English

oldest first
  • an-‘without’
  • archós‘leader, chief’

combined

  1. Greek

    anarchía

    ‘lack of a leader, lawlessness’

  2. Medieval Latin

    anarchia

  3. English

    anarchy

The story of anarchy

Greek anarchía was built from a word describing the absence of a head or chief. Medieval Latin carried the formation onward. Its historical components concern a missing leader; later political and everyday senses develop that starting point differently.

This view explains the components. They are pieces of one construction, not consecutive borrowing stages.

Source

Merriam-Webster · anarchy

Formation of the word.

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