| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
| |
| aristocracy |
| |
| SYLLABICATION: | ar·is·toc·ra·cy |
| PRONUNCIATION: |   r  -st k r -s |
| NOUN: | Inflected forms: pl. ar·is·toc·ra·cies
1. A hereditary ruling class; nobility. 2a. Government by a ruling class. b. A state or country having this form of government. 3a. 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. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Late Latin aristocratia, government by the best, from Greek aristokrati : aristos, best; see ar- in Appendix I + kratos, power; see –cracy.
| | |
| |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
|
|
