"Rule or government by many people", Early 17th cent.; earliest use found in Richard Knolles (d. 1610), historian and translator. From French poliarchie and its etymon post-classical Latin polyarchia from ancient Greek πολυαρχία rule or government by many from πολυ- + -αρχία (in μοναρχία). Compare Spanish poliarquía, Italian poliarchia.[polyarchy etymology, polyarchy origin, 英语词源]