arriviste

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 23, 2008 is: arriviste • \a-rih-VEEST\ • noun : one that is a new and uncertain arrival (as in social position or artistic endeavor) Examples: The young entrepreneur was viewed as an arriviste in the business community, and many old-timers were leery of his ideas. Did you know? An "arriviste" is someone who is just beginning to "arrive," in the sense of achieving success or making a name for oneself. Often the word can have slightly negative connotations, indicating a person who is highly aggressive or perhaps unscrupulous in his or her climb to the top. Like its synonym "parvenu," "arriviste" can also indicate a lack of certainty or confidence in one's newfound position. "Arriviste" is something of a new arrival itself, relatively speaking. English speakers borrowed the term from French in the early 20th century. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.