aristocracy

ar·is·toc·ra·cy  (r-stkr-s)

n. pl. ar·is·toc·ra·cies

1. A hereditary ruling class; nobility.

2.

a. Government by a ruling class.

b. A state or country having this form of government.

3.

a. Government by the citizens deemed to be best qualified to lead.

b. A state having such a government.

4. A group or class considered superior to others.

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[Late Latin aristocratia, government by the best, from Greek aristokrati : aristos, best; see ar- in Indo-European roots + -krati, -cracy.]

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aristocracy [ˌærɪˈstɒkrəsɪ]

n pl -cies

1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a privileged class of people usually of high birth; the nobility

2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) such a class as the ruling body of a state

3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) government by such a class

4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a state governed by such a class

5. a class of people considered to be outstanding in a sphere of activity

[from Late Latin aristocratia, from Greek aristokratia rule by the best-born, from aristos best; see -cracy]

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aristocracy

1. government by the best people.
2. an upper class based on quality, nobility, etc.

See also: Society

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Aristocracy the nobles or chief officials in a state; the privileged class.

Example: aristocracy is the ruling body of the best citizens, 1531.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	aristocracy - a privileged class holding hereditary titles nobility elite, elite group - a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status noblesse - members of the nobility (especially of the French nobility) baronage, peerage - the peers of a kingdom considered as a group baronetage - the collective body of baronets knighthood - aristocrats holding the rank of knight samurai - feudal Japanese military aristocracy aristocrat, blue blood, patrician - a member of the aristocracy
	2.	aristocracy - the most powerful members of a society gentry upper class, upper crust - the class occupying the highest position in the social hierarchy landed gentry, squirearchy - the gentry who own land (considered as a class)

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aristocracy

noun upper class, elite, nobility, gentry, peerage, ruling class, patricians, upper crust (informal), noblesse (literary), haut monde (French), patriciate, body of nobles a member of the aristocracy
masses, working classes, lower classes, commoners, proletariat, common people, hoi polloi, plebs, plebeians, proles (derogatory slang, chiefly Brit.)

Quotations
"An aristocracy in a republic is like a chicken whose head has been cut off; it may run about in a lively way, but in fact it is dead" [Nancy Mitford Noblesse Oblige]
"There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talent" [Thomas Jefferson Letter to John Adams]

Translations

aristocracy [ˌærɪsˈtɒkrəsɪ] N (= nobility) → aristocracia f

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aristocracy [ˌærɪˈstɒkrəsi] n → aristocratie f
the aristocracy → l'aristocratie

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aristocracy

n (system, state) → Aristokratie f; (= class also) → Adel m; aristocracy of wealth → Geldadel m, → Geldaristokratie f

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aristocracy [ˌærɪsˈtɒkrəsɪ] n → aristocrazia

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aristocracy

n aristocracy [ӕrəˈstokrəsi]

in some countries, the nobility and others of the highest social class, who usually own land. aristokrasie أرِسْتوقْراطِيَّه، حُكومَة الأشْراف аристокрация aristokracie, šlechta aristokrati; overklasse die Aristokratie αριστοκρατία aristocracia aristokraatia طبقۀ اشراف ylimystö aristocratie מִשְטַר אַרִיסטוֹקְרָאטִי अभिजात वर्ग aristokracija arisztokrácia ningrat, aristokrasi, keningratan aðall aristocrazia 貴族階級 귀족 aristokratija aristokrātija golongan bangsawan aristocratie aristokrati, overklasse arystokracja aristocracia aristocraţie аристократия aristokracia aristokracija aristokratija (plemstvo) aristokrati ชนชั้นสูง soylular sınıfı, aristokrasi 貴族階級 аристократія اشرافیہ ، امیر طبقہ tầng lớp quí tộc 贵族

n aristocrat [-krӕt, (American ) əˈristəkrӕt]

a member of the aristocracy. aristokraat أرِسْتوقْراطي،مِن طَبَقَة ألأشْراف аристократ aristokrat, šlechtic aristokrat der/die Adelige(r) αριστοκράτης aristócrata aristokraat اشراف زاده aristokraatti aristocrate אָצִיל अभिजात वर्ग का व्यक्ति aristokracija arisztokrata keluarga ningrat aðalsmaður aristocratico 貴族 귀족 계급 aristokratas aristokrāts bangsawan aristocraat aristokrat arystokrata aristocrata aristocrat аристократ aristokrat, -ka aristokrat aristokrat (plemić) aristokrat สมาชิกของชนชั้นสูง soylu, aristokrat 貴族(成員) аристократ طبقۂ اشرافیہ کا ایک رکن nhà quí tộc 贵族中的一员

adj aristoˈcratic [-ˈkrӕ-, (American ) əˌristəˈkrӕtik]

(of people, behaviour etc) proud and noble-looking an aristocratic manner. aristokraties أرِستوقْراطي، أنيق، لائِق аристократичен aristokratický, šlechtický aristokratisk aristokratisch αριστοκρατικός aristocrático aristokraatlik اشرافی aristokraattinen aristocratique אֲצִילִי अभिजात वर्गीय aristokratski arisztokratikus sikap ningrat aðals-, höfðingja- aristocratico 貴族的な 귀족의 aristokratiškas aristokrātisks kebangsawanan aristocratisch aristokratisk arystokratyczny aristocrático aris­to­cratic; nobil аристократический aristokratický aristokratski aristokratski (plemićki) aristokratisk เกี่ยวกับชนชั้นสูง soylulara ait, aristokratik 貴族般的 аристократичний اونچے طبقے جیسا có vẻ quí phái 贵族式的

adv aristoˈcratically

aristokraties بِصورَة أرِسْتوقراطِيَّه аристократично aristokraticky, šlechticky aristokratisk aristokratisch αριστοκρατικά aristocráticamente aristokraatlikult به صورت اشرافی ylhäisesti aristocratiquement בַּאֲצִילוּת अभिजात वर्ग के हिसाब से aristokratski arisztokratikusan secara ningrat höfðinglega; með hroka aristocraticamente 貴族的に 귀족적으로 aristokratiškai aristokrātiski berkaitan bangsawan aristocratisch aristokratisk arystokratycznie aristocraticamente aristocratic аристократично aristokraticky aristokratsko aristokratski (plemićki) aristokratiskt อย่างชนชั้นสูง aristokratça 貴族式地 аристократично اشرافیہ کے طور پر quí phái 贵族式地