parvenu (redirected from Parvenus)

par·ve·nu  (pärv-n, -ny)

n.

A person who has suddenly risen to a higher social and economic class and has not yet gained social acceptance by others in that class.

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[French, from past participle of parvenir, to arrive, from Latin pervenre : per, through; see per¹ in Indo-European roots + venre, to come; see g^w- in Indo-European roots.]

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parve·nu adj.

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parvenu or fem parvenue [par-ven-new]

Noun

a person newly risen to a position of power or wealth who is considered to lack culture or education [French]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	parvenu - a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class arriviste, nouveau-riche, upstart disagreeable person, unpleasant person - a person who is not pleasant or agreeable social climber, climber - someone seeking social prominence by obsequious behavior junior - term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male; "look here, junior, it's none of your business"
Adj.	1.	parvenu - characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position nouveau-riche, parvenue, upstart pretentious - making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction; "a pretentious country house"; "a pretentious fraud"; "a pretentious scholarly edition"
	2.	parvenu - of or characteristic of a parvenu parvenue new - not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered; "a new law"; "new cars"; "a new comet"; "a new friend"; "a new year"; "the New World"