upstart

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a person who has risen suddenly to wealth, power, or importance and is regarded as arrogant or presumptuous

   The old families dismissed the ambitious newcomer as an upstart.

2. 2
   adj

   newly successful or prominent and challenging established people or organizations

   The upstart company won customers from several long-established rivals.

From the earlier verb upstart, 'to spring or rise up suddenly,' found in Middle English as upstarten or upsterten and transparently formed from up + start. The noun came to denote someone newly risen in status, often with the implication that the rise outpaced the person's manners or accepted standing.

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