De*moc"ra*cy (dē*mŏk"rȧ*s?),
n.; pl. Democracies (-
sĭz). [F. démocratie, fr. Gr.
dhmokrati`a; dh^mos the people +
kratei^n to be strong, to rule, kra`tos
strength.] 1. Government by the people; a form
of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly
exercised by the people.
2. Government by popular representation; a
form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the
people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of
representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a
constitutional representative government; a republic.
3. Collectively, the people, regarded as the
source of government. Milton.
4. The principles and policy of the
Democratic party, so called. [U.S.]