timocracy

noun

ti·​moc·​ra·​cy tī-ˈmä-krə-sē 

1

: government in which a certain amount of property is necessary for office

2

: government in which love of honor is the ruling principle

timocratic

ˌtī-mə-ˈkra-tik 

adjective

or timocratical

ˌtī-mə-ˈkra-ti-kəl 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tymotracie, from Middle French tymocracie, from Medieval Latin timocratia, from Greek timokratia, from timē price, value, honor + -kratia -cracy; akin to Greek tiein to honor, Sanskrit cāyati he respects

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1