aristocracy
/ˌærɪˈstɒkrəsɪ/noun
(pl. -ies)(一般作the aristocracy) ［treated as sing. or pl.］
1- the highest class in certain societies, typically comprising people of noble birth holding hereditary titles and offices贵族（阶级）：
members of the aristocracy.
贵族阶级成员。
1.1
- mass noun a form of government in which power is held by the nobility贵族统治。
1.2
- a state governed in this way贵族统治的国家。
词源
late 15th cent.: from Old French aristocratie, from Greek aristokratia, from aristos 'best' + -kratia 'power'. The term originally denoted the government of a state by its best citizens， later by the rich and well born， hence the sense 'nobility'， regardless of the form of government （mid 17th cent.）.