gynaecocracy

The word 'gynaecocracy' is a modern English formation directly from classical Greek components. It combines gynaiko-, the stem of gynē (woman), with -kratia (rule or power), a suffix seen in terms like 'democracy' and 'aristocracy'. The Greek gynē itself descends from the Proto-Indo-European root gʷén-eh₂-, also meaning 'woman', which is the source for related words across languages, including 'queen'. Thus, the term's literal construction, 'rule by women', maps precisely to its modern abstract meaning, describing a theoretical or historical system of female governance.

Structure: gynaeco (woman) + cracy (rule, government) - gynaeco: From Greek gynaiko- (combining form of gynē, meaning 'woman'). Functional role: root, specifying the subject of rule. - cracy: From Greek -kratia, meaning 'rule', 'power', or 'government'. Functional role: suffix, indicating a form of government or ruling system.