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Webster 1913 Edition


Aristocracy

Arˊis-toc′ra-cy

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Aristocracies
.
[Gr. [GREEK]; [GREEK] best + [GREEK] to be strong, to rule, [GREEK] strength; [GREEK] is perh. from the same root as E.
arm
, and orig. meant
fitting
: cf. F.
aristocratie
. See
Arm
, and
Create
, which is related to Gr. [GREEK].]
1.
Government by the best citizens.
2.
A ruling body composed of the best citizens.
[Obs.]
In the Senate
Right not our quest in this, I will protest them
To all the world, no
aristocracy
.
B. Jonson.
3.
A form a government, in which the supreme power is vested in the principal persons of a state, or in a privileged order; an oligarchy.
The
aristocracy
of Venice hath admitted so many abuses, trough the degeneracy of the nobles, that the period of its duration seems approach.
Swift.
4.
The nobles or chief persons in a state; a privileged class or patrician order; (in a popular use) those who are regarded as superior to the rest of the community, as in rank, fortune, or intellect.

Webster 1828 Edition


Aristocracy

ARISTO'CRACY

,
Noun.
[Gr. best, and to hold or govern.]
A form of government, in which the whole supreme power is vested in the principal persons of a state; or in a few men distinguished by their rank and opulence. When the supreme power is exercised by a small number, the government is called an oligarchy. The latter word however is usually applied to a corrupted form of aristocracy.

Definition 2024


aristocracy

aristocracy

English

Noun

aristocracy (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

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

External links

  • aristocracy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • aristocracy in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911