Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “aristocrat” come from?

Aristocrat comes from French aristocrate, derived from French aristocratie, from Ancient Greek ἄριστος meaning "best," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂er-.

aristocrat (English): One of the aristocracy, nobility, or people of...

Definitions

  1. One of the aristocracy, nobility, or people of...

Ancestry of “aristocrat”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frencharistocratearistocratic; aristocrat, noble
2Frencharistocratiean aristocracy
3Middle Frencharistocratie—
4Medieval Latinaristocratia—
5Ancient Greekἀριστοκρατίᾱaristocracy; the rule of the best; the rule of...
6Ancient Greekἄριστοςsuperlative degree of ᾰ̓γᾰθός : best; best,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éristosfittest, most fitting, most suitable
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂er-to fit, to fix, to put together

Words derived from “aristocrat”

  • aristocratical
  • aristo
  • aristocratism
  • aristocratisation
  • nonaristocrat
  • antiaristocrat
  • aristocraticalness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂er- →