E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Aristoc’racy.
The cold shade of the aristocracy—i.e. the unsympathising patronage of the great. The expression first occurs in Sir W. F. P. Napier’s History of the Peninsular War.
1
The word “aristocracy” is the Greek aristo-cratia (rule of the best-born).
