aristocratique

Forms

aristocratique (plural aristocratiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀριστοκρατικός (aristokratikós),^[1][2][3] the adjective of ἀριστοκρατία (aristokratía, “rule of the best”).^[4][1] The word came in through the Latin translations of Aristotle,^[5] perhaps by way of Medieval Latin aristocraticus (13th century).^[4] It appears together with aristocratie in Nicole Oresme in 1361.^[4][5][2]

The Greek noun is formed from ἄριστος (áristos, “best”), the superlative of ἀγαθός (agathós, “good”), and κράτος (krátos, “strength, power”).^[4] Littré connects the second part with κρατέω (kratéō, “to be strong”).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Oresme (1361) it is a term of political philosophy: Et ceulx qui se gouvernent selonc police aristocratique dient que c'est vertu “And those who govern themselves under an aristocratic constitution say that it is virtue”.^[6][5]

Semantic evolution

For centuries it stayed a rare, learned word of political theory, describing government by a privileged few, as in Montesquieu.^[4] Rey notes that it is found in a modern context only from 1817, in Chateaubriand; the language of the Revolution used aristocrate instead.^[4]

From then on it kept positive connotations, unlike aristocrate and aristo, and took figurative senses: “noble, refined, distinguished”, of manners or looks.^[4][3] The adverb aristocratiquement is recorded from 1568.^[4][3]

Timeline

• 1361 – Oresme uses it, with aristocratie, in his translation of Aristotle.^[4][5][6]
• 1568 – The adverb aristocratiquement appears.^[4][3]
• 1790 – Robespierre speaks of a constitution aristocratique.^[7]
• 1817 – First found in a modern context, in Chateaubriand.^[4]
• 1871 – Renan uses it as a noun, l'aristocratique “what is distinguished”.^[7]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (politics) Of or relating to aristocracy as a form of government, in which power is held by a privileged class: un régime aristocratique, le parti aristocratique.^[7][5][3]
2. Belonging to the aristocracy, the noble class: une famille aristocratique.^[3][5]
3. Worthy of an aristocrat: elegant, distinguished, refined: des manières aristocratiques.^[3]

Related words

• aristocratie
• aristocrate
• démocratique
• Ancient Greek ἀριστοκρατικός (aristokratikós)
• English aristocratic

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ a b c Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard