nonaristocratic
|non-a-ris-to-crat-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˌærɪstəˈkrætɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˌærɪstəˈkrætɪk/
not aristocratic; common
Etymology
'nonaristocratic' originates from the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'aristocratic', which ultimately comes from Greek 'aristokratikos' via Late Latin/French, where 'aristos' meant 'best' and 'kratos' meant 'power' or 'rule'.
'aristocratic' changed from Greek 'aristokratikos' to Late Latin/French forms (e.g. French 'aristocratique') and then into Middle/Modern English as 'aristocratic'; the modern English compound 'nonaristocratic' formed by prefixing 'non-' in modern usage to indicate the negation of that quality.
Initially related to 'rule by the best' (aristocracy) and to belonging to the social class of aristocrats; over time 'aristocratic' came to mean 'belonging to or characteristic of the aristocracy,' and 'nonaristocratic' developed to mean 'not aristocratic' or 'common.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not aristocratic; belonging to or characteristic of people who are not members of the aristocracy — common or non-noble.
The town's social life was distinctly nonaristocratic, centered on markets and local fairs rather than grand estates.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/15 22:03