Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - timocracy

 noun  Etymology: Middle English tymotracie, from Middle French tymocracie, from Medieval Latin timocratia, from Greek timokratia, from time price, value, honor + -kratia -cracy; akin to Greek tiein to honor, Sanskrit cayati he respects  Date: 15th century  1. government in which a certain amount of property is necessary for office  2. government in which love of honor is the ruling principle  • timocratic or timocratical adjective