subs. (old).—Money: generic: spec. silver money (BAILEY): see GENT. Hence ARGENTOCRACY = the power of money; MAMMON (q.v.).

1

  c. 1500.  The Romans of Partenay (SKEAT), 1119. Euery day had ther money and ARGENT.

2

  1583.  P. STUBBES, The Anatomie of Abuses, i. 52. Whether they haue ARGENTE, to mayntaine this geare.

3

  1630.  TAYLOR (‘The Water Poet’), Workes, ii. 18. 2.

        Besides each day, some hound-like senting Sergeant
Scoutes, gapes, pries, preyes, and tires him out for ARGEANT.

4

  1864.  E. D. FORGUES, in Revue des deux Mondes, 15 Sept., 470. Les voleurs anglais disent GENT pour ‘ARGENT.’

5

  1868.  Pall Mall Gazette, 23 May, 11. The disease of ARGENTOCRACY.

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