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Nomenklatura

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the privileged elite of officials in a Communist state

Where does the word "nomenklatura" come from? It comes from Latin nomenclatura, passing through Russian before entering English (1950s).

nomenclatura→nomenklatura→nomenklatura

Latin · classical

"list of names"

'a calling by name', from nomen 'name' + calare 'to call'; related to nomenclator, the slave who whispered voters' names to a Roman candidate canvassing in the Forum

Russian · 1920s

"Soviet ruling elite"

the Party's list of important posts that could be filled only with its approval, and by extension the privileged officials who held them

English · 1950s

"Communist ruling elite"

Milovan Djilas analysed this elite in The New Class (1957), and Michael Voslensky's 1980 book Nomenklatura made the word widely known

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Nomenklatura’s story begins in Latin: nomenclatura meant “list of names.” 'a calling by name', from nomen 'name' + calare 'to call'; related to nomenclator, the slave who whispered voters' names to a Roman candidate canvassing in the Forum. By 1920s, the word had taken hold in Russian as nomenklatura. The Party's list of important posts that could be filled only with its approval, and by extension the privileged officials who held them. It reached English by 1950s as nomenklatura. Milovan Djilas analysed this elite in The New Class (1957), and Michael Voslensky's 1980 book Nomenklatura made the word widely known. Today, nomenklatura means the privileged elite of officials in a Communist state.