gerrymandered
UK[ˈdʒer.iˌmæn.dəd]US[ˈdʒer.iˌmæn.dərd]
verb (past tense, past participle)
To manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party or class.
Morpheme Breakdown
gerry
mander
ed
gerry
mander
ed
Etymology
The term is a political portmanteau, a blend of the name 'Gerry' and 'salamander'. It originated in 1812 when Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry signed a bill creating a partisan electoral district so oddly shaped that a critic likened it to a mythological salamander. The verb 'gerrymander' was coined from this satirical cartoon, with the '-ed' suffix later added to form its past tense. Thus, a proper name and an animal metaphor fused to create a lasting term for the practice of partisan redistricting.
Analysis
Structure: gerry + mander + ed
- gerry: A proper name (from Elbridge Gerry, a U.S. Vice President).
- mander: A respelling of 'salamander', the shape of the manipulated district was likened to this creature.
- ed: A suffix (from Old English) used to form the past tense and past participle of verbs.
Examples
The state legislature was accused of having gerrymandered the voting districts to secure a permanent majority.
Several key seats were won after the map had been carefully gerrymandered.
The court ordered the state to redraw the gerrymandered congressional boundaries.