Increasingly, the terms have been used by conspiracy theorists to mean rule by a secret elite.

If "Machiavellian" means rule by deceit and dissembling, that might well turn out to be the case.

In America democracy really does mean rule by the masses.

These changes are welcomed by the powerful because they mean rule by "technocrats".

The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best".

In its own land, raj simply means rule.

That means real transparency, rule of law, independent courts and anti-corruption measures.

You know perfectly well that that will mean rule from Moscow.

It states that they will even undertake not to influence their national central banks, which means rule by bankers.

Hence his name, which means "rule"; in a reversal of roles, it is he who comes to rule the English.