Also 6–7 -cratie, -y. [ad. L. aristocratia, Gr. ἀριστοκρατία, f. ἄριστος best + -κρατία rule. Cf. F. aristocracie (14th c.).] In earlier usage generally contrasted with monarchy; since the French Revolution, with democracy.
1. In the literal sense of the Gr.: The government of a state by its best citizens. Also fig.
[1531. Elyot, Gov. (1875), 9. In the Greke tunge called Aristocratia … in englisshe, the rule of men of beste disposicion.]
1561. T. N[orton], Calvin’s Inst., Table, Aristocracy [is] the government of the best choisest men.
c. 1651. Hobbes, Rhetoric (1840), 435. Aristocracy is that, wherein the highest magistrate is chosen out of those that have had the best education.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., xlv. (1846), IV. 257. A perfect aristocracy of reason and virtue.
1850. Carlyle, Latter-d. Pamph., iii. 41. The attainment of a truer and truer Aristocracy, or Government again by the Best.
† 2. concr. A ruling body of the best citizens.
1605. B. Jonson, Foxe, III. iii. If the Senate Right not my quest in this; I will protest ’hem, To all the world, no aristocracy.
3. That form of government in which the chief power lies in the hands of those who are most distinguished by birth or fortune; political supremacy of a privileged order; oligarchy.
1577. trans. Bullinger’s Decades (1592), 169. The Aristocracie is the superior power of a few Peeres.
1623. Massinger, Bondman, I. iii. To change the aristocracy of Corinth Into an absolute monarchy.
1701. Bp. Lloyd, Marg. Readg. to Gen., xxxvi. 39. After his death was an aristocracy.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., VI. l. 378. Despotisms, monarchies, and aristocracies must conform to them.
b. A state having this form of government.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 72. Those States which be called Aristocraties … governed by a Senate or Counsel of the greatest men.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The republic of Venice is an aristocracy.
1865. Pall Mall Gaz., 29 Sept., 1/2. If by an aristocracy we mean … a country in which distinguished birth, inherited wealth, and education, are the chief titles to political power.
4. concr. A ruling body of nobles, an oligarchy.
1611. Coryat, Crudities, 390. I cannot informe thee of their aristocratie [of Venice].
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 55. Aristocracy is when a company of men met in Councel, ascribe to themselves whatsoever power is due to any rightful monarch … Such were the Roman Senate, and Ephori of Lacedæmon.
1719. Steele, To Earl Oxford, 322. The aristocracy over these dominions.
This passes gradually into:
5. The class to which such a ruling body belongs, a patrician order; the collective body of those who form a privileged class with regard to the government of their country; the nobles. The term is popularly extended to include all those who by birth or fortune occupy a position distinctly above the rest of the community, and is also used fig. of those who are superior in other respects.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., II. xix. 98. Aristocracie … an Assembly of certain persons nominated, or otherwise distinguished from the rest.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., II. V. iii. 547. No oppressive aristocracy has ever prevailed in the colonies.
1795. in Trans. Philol. Soc. (1858), 52. [The Attorney-General in Horne Tooke’s trial says] To the rich was given the name aristocracy.
1838. Hallam, Hist. Lit., II. II. iv. § 52. The distinguishing characteristic of an aristocracy is the enjoyment of privileges which are not communicable to other citizens simply by anything they can themselves do to obtain them.
1843. F. E. Paget, Warden of Berkingholt, 74. If subscription lists are … a test of what our Aristocracy do in proportion to their means, their backwardness and niggardliness is very great.
1845. Disraeli, Sybil (1863), 88. There is no longer in fact an aristocracy in England, for the superiority of the animal man is an essential quality of aristocracy.
1861. Mill, Utilit. (1864), 95. So it will be … with the aristocracies of colour, race, and sex.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, Introd. Our aristocracy and gentry date, on the whole, from the days of Henry the Eighth.
1881. Seeley, in Macm. Mag., XLV. 47/1. From the democracy of readers … appeal must be made to the aristocracy of students, to those who make a business of knowledge.
6. = ARISTOCRATICISM.
1822. Byron, in Moore, Lett., 558. My aristocracy which is very fierce makes him a favourite of mine.
