aristocracy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class.

   But when Nietzsche has the incredible lack of humour and lack of imagination to ask us to believe that his aristocracy is an aristocracy of strong muscles or an aristocracy of strong wills, it is necessary to point out the truth. It is an aristocracy of weak nerves.

2. 2
   noun

   Government by such a class, or a state with such a government.

   How many false principles have been laid down, how much delusion supported, by reference to the glories of Athens and of Rome! It remained for a later time to observe that those so-called republics were but aristocracy in its most oppressive form; and what are now the people were then positive slaves;...

3. 3
   noun

   the most powerful members of a society

4. 4
   noun

   a privileged class holding hereditary titles

5. 5
   noun

   A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French aristocratie, from Medieval Latin aristocratia, from Ancient Greek ἀριστοκρατίᾱ (aristokratíā, “the rule of the best“, that is, “the best-born”, “nobility”), from ἄριστος (áristos, “best, noblest”) + -κρατίᾱ (-kratíā), from κράτος (krátos, “power, rule”). By surface analysis, aristo- + -cracy.