élite

See also: elite, and Elite

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French élite.

Adjective

élite (comparative more élite, superlative most élite)

1. Alternative spelling of elite
   • 2002, Clive Jones and Emma Murphy, Israel: Challenges to Identity, Democracy, and the State‎, page 27 (Routledge; →ISBN

     Ben-Gurion’s legacy has been an enduring one. The projection of a national consensus, the domination of the state over other political actors, and the hegemony exercised over decision-making by a largely Ashkanazim élite remain features of Israeli politics today.

   • 2009, Farhad Manjoo, Is Wikipedia a Victim of Its Own Success?, page 2 (TIME.COM, Monday Sep. 28, 2009)

     Over time, though, a class system emerged; now revisions made by infrequent contributors are much likelier to be undone by élite Wikipedians.

Noun

élite (plural élites)

1. Alternative spelling of elite
   • 1951, Isaac Asimov, Foundation (1974 Panther Books Ltd publication), part III: “The Mayors”, chapter 6, page 101, ¶ 5

     A hush had fallen over the élite in the ballroom, as a broad path was cleared for the throne. Lepold sat on it now, hands solidly on its arms, head high, face frozen.

Anagrams

• Eitel, Leite, Tiele

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French

Etymology

Feminine of élit, old past participle of verb élire (displaced by élu).

Noun

élite f (plural élites)

1. elite

Further reading

• “élite”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

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Italian

Noun

élite f

1. elite

Derived terms

• elitario
• elitarismo / elitismo

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Spanish

Alternative forms

• elite

Etymology

Borrowed from French élite.

Noun

élite f (plural élites)

1. elite