demagogue

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular passions and prejudices

   The demagog was known to incite petty hatred.

2. 2
   verb

   To speak or act in the manner of a demagogue; to speak about (an issue) in the manner of a demagogue.

   C. 1938, Maury Maverick, The New York Times, quoted in 1970, Richard B. Henderson, Maury Maverick: A Political Biography, page 183, I never demagogued on our serious questions and stood for civil liberties.

From Middle French démagogue, from Ancient Greek δημαγωγός (dēmagōgós, “popular leader, mob leader”), from δῆμος (dêmos, “people”) + ἀγωγός (agōgós, “guide”). By surface analysis, dem- + -agogue.

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