cronyism

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The Word of the Day for May 16 is:

cronyism   \ KROH-nee-iz-um\   noun
     : partiality to cronies especially as evidenced in the appointment of 
political hangers-on to office without regard to their qualifications

Example sentence:
     The newly elected governor appointed many of his old pals to prominent 
positions, prompting accusations of cronyism from his opponents.

Did you know?
     "Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him" 
(Ecclesiasticus 9:10). Practitioners of cronyism would probably agree. The word 
"cronyism" evolved in the 19th century as a spin-off of "crony," meaning 
"friend" or "chum." "Crony" originated in England in the 17th century, perhaps 
as a play on the Greek word "chronios," meaning "long-lasting," from "chronos," 
meaning "time." Nineteenth-century cronyism was simply friendship, or the 
ability to make friends. The word didn't turn bad until the mid-20th century, 
when Americans starting using "cronyism" to refer to the act of playing 
political favorites.