parvenu meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

parvenu

noun

UK /ˈpɑː.və.njuː/ · US /ˈpɑɹ.və.nju/

Etymology Borrowed from French parvenu, past participle of parvenir, from Latin perveniō (“arrive, reach”). See also parvenue f

A person who has risen, climbed up, or has been promoted to a higher social class, especially through acquisition of wealth, privileges, or political authority but has not gained social acceptance by those within that new class.

But the favourite's power and influence provoke intense ill-feeling among other courtiers, who regard him as a sinister, usurping parvenu with ideas above his station, or perhaps even a sorcerer.2001 January 31, Francis Wheen, “The whole truth about Peter's friends”, in The Guardian:

Synonyms: arriviste
Derived terms: parvenudom, parvenuess, parvenuism
Related terms: nouveau riche

parvenu

adj

Etymology Borrowed from French parvenu, past participle of parvenir, from Latin perveniō (“arrive, reach”). See also parvenue f

Being a parvenu; also, like, having the characteristics of, or associated with a parvenu.

Loss of money is far the worst, then comes ill-health, and then loss of reputation; loss of reputation is a bad third, for, if a man keeps health and money unimpaired, it will be generally found that his loss of reputation is due to breaches of parvenu conventions only, and not to violations of those older, better established canons whose authority is unquestionable.1903, Samuel Butler, chapter 66, in The Way of All Flesh:
The Progressives were of the educated middle class, angry at the rule of parvenu financiers and industrialists.2001, Norman Birnbaum, After Progress, Oxford University Press:

1 more example

The majority of the adults, however, viewed Luisa Santiaga as the precious jewel of a rich and powerful family whom a parvenu telegraph operator was courting not for love but self-interest.2003, Edith Grossman, chapter 1, in Living to Tell the Tale, translation of original by Gabriel García Márquez, published 2002: