anticaste
|an-ti-caste|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈkæst/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈkɑːst/
against the caste system
Etymology
'anticaste' is formed in modern English from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') joined to 'caste' (from Portuguese 'casta', ultimately from Latin 'castus' meaning 'pure').
'caste' entered English in the 17th century from Portuguese 'casta' (meaning 'lineage, breed'), derived from Latin 'castus'. The prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti-' and has long been used in English to form oppositional compounds; combining them produced the modern compound 'anticaste'.
Initially, 'caste' referred to 'lineage' or a hereditary social grouping; over time it came to denote the broader social system and its hierarchies. 'Anticaste' therefore developed the clear modern sense 'against the caste system' and retains that opposition-oriented meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who opposes the caste system or practices that enforce social caste distinctions.
She described herself as an anticaste and dedicated her work to caste reform.
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Adjective 1
opposed to the caste system; critical of social practices that enforce caste distinctions.
The report sparked anticaste sentiment across several communities.
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Last updated: 2025/08/28 09:00