Meaning and usage of the word arriviste in English

The word "arriviste" originated in 19th century France, where it was used to describe newly wealthy social climbers who sought to gain entry into high society. The term, derived from the French verb "arrivé" (meaning "having arrived"), was originally applied to people who suddenly acquired a wealthy lifestyle or position through marriage or inheritance, rather than through personal achievement or family lineage. In French society of the time, social class was strongly tied to one's birth and occupation, and the behavior and manners of newly rich arrivistes were often seen as crude and uncultured by established elites. As a result, the term came to be associated with snobbery and disdain towards those perceived as socially aspiring. The word "arriviste" was later adopted by English speakers, particularly during the Victorian era, and continued to be used in English to describe individuals who earn their wealth or social status quickly and without prestigious lineage. Today, the term is still used in English and, while less common than in the past, is still occasionally employed in a pejorative sense to criticize those deemed to be climbers or pretenders.