As the word makes its way into all kinds of peculiar sentences, it seems worth clearing up one matter: Anthony Scaramucci should not be blamed or credited with inventing it. It is a real word, with a complex history. In fact, this is not the first time it has intersected with politics in a public way. Nearly a century ago it was invoked and a man — considered by many to be one of the most influential neurologists of his time — ended up dead. His name was Vladimir Mikhailovich Bekhterev and the person he described as “paranoiac” was Joseph Stalin.

The precise sentence that many historians believe led to Dr. Bekhterev’s death was: “I have just examined a paranoiac with a short, dry hand.”