demagogue \DEH-muh-gahg\ (noun) - A leader who makes use of
popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power; a
leader championing the cause of the common people in ancient times.
"The candidate was characterized by his opponent as a complete demagogue,
pointing out that he could take the truth and twist it completely around to
gain more and more power."
When the ancient Greeks used "demagogos" (from "demos,"
meaning "people" and "agein," "to lead") they
meant someone good -- a leader who used outstanding oratorical skills to
further the interests of the common people. But by the 17th century the word
took a negative turn, coming to suggest one who uses his powers of persuasion
to sway and mislead. "A plausible, insignificant word, in the mouth of an
expert demagogue, is a dangerous and a dreadful weapon," declared Robert
South, known for his sermons, in 1716. Thus when the verb "demagogue"
appeared also around that time it had the negative twist of "behave like a
demagogue."
Charles
Mims
http://www.the-sandbox.org
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