| 单词 | caste |
| 释义 | caste (once / 680 pages) n The word caste was originally associated with India's traditional system of hereditary and rigidly stratified classes, but this noun can now be used to refer to any social group distinguished by shared characteristics, such as rank, economic wealth, or profession. The root of caste is the Latin castus, which means "chaste" or "pure, separated." The word arrived in English through the Portuguese casta, which means "race" or "lineage," and was first used in the 1700s in reference to Hinduism's system of social stratification. By the nineteenth century, though, this noun was used metaphorically to describe any type of group that resembled this, as in the example, "Some sought to abolish the privileges enjoyed by an elite caste of business and financial leaders." WORD FAMILYcaste: casteless, castes USAGE EXAMPLESHe said Sri Lanka still is still grappling with issues regarding religion, caste and race. Seattle Times(Dec 24, 2016) Your revelation; your "money based caste system" is not news to us. New York Times(Apr 23, 2016) Ancient caste and family alliances prevail, deals are struck, money changes hands. Washington Post(Dec 20, 2016) 1n (Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity Hypo|Hyper jati (Hinduism) a Hindu caste or distinctive social group of which there are thousands throughout India; a special characteristic is often the exclusive occupation of its male members (such as barber or potter) class, social class, socio-economic class, stratum people having the same social, economic, or educational status 2n a social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank or profession or wealth Hyper class, social class, socio-economic class, stratum people having the same social, economic, or educational status 3n social status or position conferred by a system based on class lose caste by doing work beneath one's station Hyper position, status the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society 4n in some social insects (such as ants) a physically distinct individual or group of individuals specialized to perform certain functions in the colony Hyper animal group a group of animals |
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