brahmin
brahmin — noun
- brahminsingular
- brahminsplural
1. A person from a small group of old, wealthy, and well-educated families in the n
A person from a small group of old, wealthy, and well-educated families in the northeastern United States, especially in New England, who have held social and political influence for many generations.
Valentina's family, old Boston Brahmins, had funded the city's public library a century ago.
collocation: old Boston Brahmins
The board of directors included several Brahmins from established New England families.
attributive plural: Brahmins from [place]
Karim learned his colleague came from a Brahmin family with decades of local political influence.
For generations, Brahmin families in Boston have supported the symphony and the art museum.
Sirin's thesis examined how Brahmin social influence in America declined during the twentieth century.
- aristocrat
broader term for inherited nobility; Brahmin is specific to New England
- patrician
more formal, often implies ancient Roman or European nobility
- blue blood
informal, refers to any old-money aristocratic family
- commoner
a person without noble or elite status
文法句型
Brahmin + noun (e.g. Brahmin family)
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrase Boston Brahmin. Coined by 19th-century writer Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. to describe the old-money Protestant elite of New England. Can sound dated or mildly critical of social privilege.
常見錯誤
2. A person from the top-ranked group within the traditional Hindu caste hierarchy
A person from the top-ranked group within the traditional Hindu caste hierarchy — a group whose historic duties included performing temple rituals and studying ancient religious writings.
In traditional Indian society, Brahmins performed religious ceremonies and taught from the sacred texts.
collocation: Brahmins performed / taught sacred texts
Haruto's research focused on the role of Brahmins in preserving ancient Sanskrit literature.
The temple priest, a Brahmin, recited the ancient verses during the wedding ceremony.
Kemi learned about the Brahmin tradition of passing down sacred knowledge across generations.
Many Brahmins today work in education, law, or engineering rather than as priests.
- Brahman
alternate spelling; more common in academic and religious writing
文法句型
the + Brahmin + noun (e.g. the Brahmin caste)
用法筆記
Also spelled Brahman (the more common scholarly form). In modern India, the term is socially and politically sensitive because the caste system is legally abolished but still affects daily life. Distinguish from Brahma, the Hindu creator god.