pentarchyyoudaoicibaDictYouDict[pentarchy 词源字典]
"A group or league of five provinces, sees, kingdoms, etc., each under its own ruler; the rulers of these collectively. Now chiefly historical", Late 16th cent.; earliest use found in Raphael Holinshed (c1525–?1580), historian. From ancient Greek πενταρχία a rule of five, with reference to the magistracy of the five at Carthage (from πεντα- + -αρχία); perhaps via Middle French, French pentarchie.[pentarchy etymology, pentarchy origin, 英语词源]