English
aristocracy
Aristocracy comes from Ancient Greek ἀριστοκρατίᾱ ‘the rule of the best“, that is, “the…’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *kret- ‘strength’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kret-‘strength’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*krét-osreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκράτοςkrátos‘power, rule’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἄριστοςáristos‘best, noblest’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀριστοκρατίᾱaristokratíā‘the rule of the best“, that is, “the best-born”, “nobility’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500aristocratia
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600aristocratie
- Englishearliest quotation 1791aristocracy
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kret-‘strength’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*krét-osreconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκράτοςkrátos‘power, rule’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἄριστοςáristos‘best, noblest’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEἀριστοκρατίᾱaristokratíā‘the rule of the best“, that is, “the best-born”, “nobility’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500aristocratia
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600aristocratie
- Englishearliest quotation 1791aristocracy
Earliest quotation: 1791, Thomas Paine: “That, then, which is called aristocracy in some countries…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kret- ‘strength’
through Proto-Indo-European *krét-os
Today it means
noun The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kret- / aristocracy