ONLINE
ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY
- 1640s, from Gk. oligarkhikos, from oligarkhos, related to oligarkhia (see oligarchy). Related: Oligarchical.
- before vowels olig-, word-forming element meaning "few, the few," from comb. form of Gk. oligos "few, scanty, small, little," in plural, "the few;" of uncertain origin.
- one of the nine chief magistrates of ancient Athens, 1650s, from Greek arkhon "ruler," noun use of prp. of arkhein "to rule," from PIE *arkhein- "to begin, rule, command," a "Gk. verb of unknown origin, but showing archaic Indo-European features ... with derivatives arkhe, 'rule, beginning,' and arkhos, 'ruler' " [Watkins].
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