parvenu Hear it!

parvenu definition

par·venu (pär′və no̵̅o̅′, -nyo̵̅o̅′)

noun

a person who has suddenly acquired wealth or power, esp. one who is not fully accepted socially by the class associated with the higher position; upstart

Etymology: Fr, pp. of parvenir < L pervenire, to arrive < per, through (see per) + venire, come

adjective

  1. being a parvenu
  2. like or characteristic of a parvenu

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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