Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Aristocracy
Arˊis-toc′ra-cy
,Noun.
pl.
Aristocracies
. 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
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.
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)
- The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class
- Government by such a class, or a state with such a government
- A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
the nobility or the hereditary ruling class
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government by such a class
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class of people considered superior to others
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External links
- aristocracy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- aristocracy in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911