-ocraticcomb. form

Primary stress is attracted to the second syllable of this combining form and vowels may be reduced accordingly; see e.g.
meritocratic adj.Origin: Formed within English, by clipping or shortening. Etymons: aristocratic adj., democratic adj. and n.
Etymology: < -ocratic (in aristocratic adj., democratic adj. and n., etc.); compare -o- connective, -cratic comb. form, and -ocracy comb. form.Formations with an English first element and this terminal element are found from the late 18th cent. onwards, the earliest probably being mobocratic adj. A small number are found in the 19th and 20th centuries, mostly made on the analogy of pre-existing formations in -ocracy comb. form, e.g. meritocratic adj., squattocratic adj. at squattocracy n. Derivatives, pedantocratic adj., and technocratic adj.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online June 2022).