1
Stage 1 of 3
aristokratia
Greek · ancient
"rule by the best citizens"
literally rule by the best, from aristos (best) and kratos (power)
2
Stage 2 of 3
aristocratie
French · 1500s
"rule by a privileged class"
carried into French political vocabulary
3
Stage 3 of 3
aristocracy
English · 1500s
"a class of hereditary nobility"
settled as the word for a hereditary ruling class
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