combining form (on Greek analogies) of L. socius companion, associate, etc.
† 1. Denoting ‘fellow-.’ Obs.–1
1656. New Almanac (ed. 2), 7. His socio-forger.
2. Used as the first element in a number of hybrid formations (suggested by SOCIOLOGY) having reference to the constitution, study, etc., of society, as Sociocracy, government by society as a whole. Sociocrat, one who believes in sociocracy. Sociocratic a., pertaining to, of the nature of, sociocracy. Sociolatry, the service of society. Sociophagous a., preying upon society or certain parts of it. Sociostatic a., tending to preserve a balance in society.
Various other formations, as sociogenetic, -geny, -nomic, -nomy, have also been recently used or suggested.
1858. R. Congreve, trans. Comte’s Catal. Pos. Relig., xiii. 401. Feudalism combined both…, so as to constitute an anticipation of the final *sociocracy.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 15 June, 3. An idea which in its germ, sociocracy borrows from theocracy.
1887. Women’s Union Jrnl., 15 Dec., 94. A School of *Sociocrats which held that Communism was impossible because gradations of rank were indestructible.
1887. S. H. Swinny, in Macm. Mag., Aug., 318/1. This method of succession, named by Comte *sociocratic heredity.
1858. Brit. Quart. Rev., LVI. 441. ‘Widowhood’ is to be perpetual. This is an essential feature of Positivist *sociolatry.
1867. B. F. Westcott, in Contemp. Rev., VI. 400. The system of sociolatry, which is … to furnish to later generations a complete and permanent religion.
1892. H. Spencer, Princ. Ethics, I. II. xiv. § 192. 472. In *sociophagous nations like ours, not much pleasure is caused by contemplating the cessation of conquests.
1895. B. Sidis, in Atlantic Monthly, Feb., 195/1. In a society where the *sociostatic press is always at work.
3. Used in comb. with adjs., in the sense ‘social and…,’ as socio-official, -political, -religious, etc.
1891. Kipling, City Dreadf. Nt., 86. They are spared all *socio-official worry.
1884. Pall Mall Gaz., 16 Feb., 2/1. The political or *socio-political questions of the day.
1889. Spectator, 26 Oct., 556/1. The *socio-religious life of Scotland.
