Definition: Aristocracy

From New World Encyclopedia

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French aristocratie, from Medieval Latin aristocratia, from Ancient Greek á¼€ÏιστοκÏατίᾱ (aristokratíÄ, meaning "the rule of the best," namely, "the best-born," "nobility"), from ἄÏιστος (áristos, "best, noblest") + -κÏατίᾱ (-kratíÄ), from κÏάτος (krátos, "power, rule").

Noun

aristocracy (countable and uncountable, plural aristocracies)

  1. The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class
  2. Government by such a class, or a state with such a government
  3. A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others

Related terms

  • aristocrat
  • aristocratic

Credits

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