democrat
(ˈdɛməʊkræt)
Also 8 -crate.
[a. F. démocrate (1790 in Hatzf.), formed from démocratie democracy, on the model of aristocrate.]
1. An adherent or advocate of democracy; orig. one of the republicans of the French Revolution of 1790 (opposed to aristocrat).
| 1790 Hist. Europe in Ann. Reg. 119/2 The democrates had already stripped the nobility of all power. 1791 Gibbon Misc. Works (1814) I. 340 Even our democrats are more reasonable or more discreet. a 1794 ― Autobiog. Wks. 1796 I. 181 The clamour of the triumphant democrates. 1840 Carlyle Heroes vi. Napoleon, in his first period, was a true Democrat. 1851 Helps Comp. Solit. ii. (1874) 15 Too affectionate a regard for the people to be a democrat. |
2. U.S. politics. A member of the Democratic party: see democratic 2.
| 1798 Washington Let. Writ. 1893 XIV. 105 You could as soon scrub the blackamore white as change the principle of a profest Democrat. 1809 Kendall Trav. III. lx. 5 A democrat is an anti-federalist. 1847 H. Clay Priv. Corr. 544 He must say whether he is Whig or Democrat. 1888 Bryce Amer. Commw. II. iii. liii. 333 One of these two parties carried on, under the name of Democrats, the dogmas and traditions of the Jeffersonian Republicans. |
3. U.S. A light four-wheeled cart with several seats one behind the other, and usually drawn by two horses. ‘Originally called democratic wagon (Western and Middle U.S.)’. Cent. Dict.
| 1890 S. J. Duncan Soc. Departure 26 The vehicle was, in the language of the country, a ‘democrat’, a high four-wheeled cart, painted and varnished, with double seats, one behind the other. 1894 Auctioneer's Catal. (New York), Democrat Wagon in good order. |
4. attrib. = democratic. rare.
| 1817 Coleridge Biog. Lit. I. x. 186 He..talked of purpose in a democrat way in order to draw me out. 1890 Spectator 15 Nov. 676 Whether a little farmer..is going to rule the Democrat Party in America. |