| Title | aristocracy |
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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary ar·is·toc·ra·cy \\ˌa-rə-ˈstä-krə-sē, ˌer-ə-\\ noun (plural -cies) ETYMOLOGY Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French aristocratie, from Late Latin aristocratia, from Greek aristokratia,from aristos best + -kratia -cracy DATE 1561 1. government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class 2. a. a government in which power is vested in a minority consisting of those believed to be best qualified b. a state with such a government 3. a governing body or upper class usually made up of a hereditary nobility 4. the aggregate of those believed to be superior English Etymology aristocracy 1560s, from M.Fr . aristocracie (Mod.Fr. aristocratie), from L.L.aristocratia, from Gk. aristokratia "government, rule of the best," from aristos "best" (originally "most fitting," from PIE *ar-isto-,superlative form of *ar- "to fit together") + kratos "rule, power" (see -cracy). At first in a literal sense; meaning "rule by a privileged class" (best-born or best-favored by fortune) is from 1570s and became paramount 17c. Hence, the meaning "patrician order" (1650s). In early use contrasted with monarchy; after French and American revolutions, with democracy.http://M.Fr Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 aristocracy ar·is·toc·racy / 7Ari5stCkrEsi; NAmE -5stB:k- / noun[C + sing. / pl. v.] (pl. -ies) (in some countries) people born in the highest social class, who have special titles (某些国家的)贵族 SYN nobility :
members of the aristocracy 贵族成员 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English aristocracy noun ADJ. British, French, etc. | landed, landowning | local PHRASES a member of the aristocracy Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged ar·is·toc·ra·cy \ˌarə̇ˈstäkrəsē, -si also ˌer-\ noun (-es) Etymology: Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French aristocratie, from Late Latin aristocratia, from Greek aristokratia, from aristo- + -kratia -cracy 1. : government by the best individuals or by a relatively small privileged class 2. a. : a form of government in which the power is vested in a minority consisting of those felt to be best qualified to rule b. : a state having such a government 3. : a governing body made up of those felt to be outstanding citizens, especially nobles or others of high rank : an upper class usually made up of an hereditary nobility : a patrician order 4. : the aggregate of those felt to be superior (as in rank, wealth, or intellect) |
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