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Democracy
Definitions
- 1 The Democratic Party. US, obsolete
"I so adopt it because it furnishes a precise and an agreed starting point for a discussion between Republicans and that wing of the Democracy headed by Senator Douglas."
- 1 Rule by the people, especially as a form of government; either directly or through elected representatives (representative democracy). uncountable
"And the essential value and power of Democracy consists in this,—that it combines, as far as possible, power and organization ; THE SPIRIT, MANHOOD, is at one with THE BODY, ORGANIZATION. [....] Democracy is Government by the People."
- 2 the doctrine that the numerical majority of an organized group can make decisions binding on the whole group wordnet
- 3 A government under the direct or representative rule of the people of its jurisdiction. countable
"Of course, the Russians think it is something else because they say the Russians have a democracy and it is plain that their government is not what the Americans regard as a democracy."
- 4 the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives wordnet
- 5 A state with a democratic system of government. countable
"After almost four decades of authoritarian rule, South Africa became a democracy in April 1994."
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- 6 a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them wordnet
- 7 Belief in political freedom and equality; the "spirit of democracy". uncountable
"As states of the human spirit democracy, righteousness, and faith have much in common and may be cultivated by the same means..."
Etymology
From Middle French democratie (French démocratie), from Medieval Latin dēmocratia, from Ancient Greek δημοκρᾰτῐ́ᾱ (dēmokrătĭ́ā). By surface analysis, demo- (“people”) + -cracy (“rule”).
See also for "democracy"
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