"A government elected by or consisting of the poor; (in extended use) poor people considered as a class", Late 18th cent.; earliest use found in James Burgh (1714–1775), educationist and author. From ancient Greek πτωχο-, combining form (in e.g. πτωχοποιός drawing beggarly characters) of πτωχός (adjective) poor, (noun) beggar + -cracy.[ptochocracy etymology, ptochocracy origin, 英语词源]