quislingist · adj — that is collaborating with an occupying enemy. It carries an Arena rating of 1445, earned across 29 head-to-head judged battles.
Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, quislingist ranks #181 of 17,146 for Most Storied Words, #808 of 17,176 for Most Incisive Words, #855 of 17,188 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #891 of 17,171 for Scariest Words.
Why “quislingist” is a great word
Actively and ideologically collaborating with an occupying enemy force, particularly from within a position of political or civic trust. From the surname Quisling (Vidkun Quisling, a Norwegian politician who collaborated with the Nazis during World War II) + the suffix -ist (denoting an adherent to a practice). The term was coined in 1940. Unlike 'collaborator,' a general and sometimes ambiguous label, or 'turncoat,' which implies a self-serving shift of personal loyalty, quislingist carries the specific, cold weight of political betrayal from within the halls of power. It is the official seal affixed to the deportation order, the calm voice on the radio justifying the enemy's decrees, and the hollow ceremony where national symbols are draped in foreign flags—the bureaucratic machinery of surrender operated by those sworn to guard the gates.
❧ Essay by Lexicurio’s AI · definition, etymology & citations from published sources
Etymology
From Quisling + -ist.
adj
- That is collaborating with an occupying enemy.e.g.“Terboven then issued his decree of Sept. 25 declaring the King of Norway deposed, dissolving all political parties except Nasjonal Sanding, and setting up a Quislingist administration.” — 1941, Bulletin of International News - Volume 18, Issues 1-20, page 686:
noun
- A traitor who collaborates with an occupying enemy.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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