English Dictionary

PARVENU

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does parvenu mean? 

PARVENU (noun)
  The noun PARVENU has 1 sense:

1. a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that classplay

  Familiarity information: PARVENU used as a noun is very rare.


PARVENU (adjective)
  The adjective PARVENU has 2 senses:

1. characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new positionplay

2. of or characteristic of a parvenuplay

  Familiarity information: PARVENU used as an adjective is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


PARVENU (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

arriviste; nouveau-riche; parvenu; upstart

Hypernyms ("parvenu" is a kind of...):

disagreeable person; unpleasant person (a person who is not pleasant or agreeable)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "parvenu"):

climber; social climber (someone seeking social prominence by obsequious behavior)

junior (term of address for a disrespectful and annoying male)

Derivation:

parvenu (characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position)


PARVENU (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position

Synonyms:

nouveau-riche; parvenu; parvenue; upstart

Similar:

pretentious (making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction)

Derivation:

parvenu (a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or characteristic of a parvenu

Synonyms:

parvenu; parvenue

Similar:

new (not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered)


 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere" (English proverb)

"Who loves cats has a beautiful wife" (Breton proverb)

"The people's lord is their servant." (Arabic proverb)

"Whilst doing one learns." (Dutch proverb)



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