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• n  a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class
• s  characteristic of someone who has risen economically or socially but lacks the social skills appropriate for this new position
• s  of or characteristic of a parvenu

• Although Damien had considerable money and influence, he remained a parvenu, almost a pariah, among the so-called gentiles of that day.
• The parvenu scientist was first ridiculed but his work forced the high brow to acknowledge his brilliance.
• Contrary to expectations, the son of the President became not a parvenu but a diligent, even diffident, mayor of the famous city.

• upstart
• nouveau-riche
• arriviste
• parvenue

Quotes

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• Emily Post in Wall Street Journal
  A dinner interlarded with a row of extra entrées, Roman punch, and hot dessert,Emily Post wrote in her original 1922 etiquette manual, "is unknown except at a public dinner, or in the dining-room of a parvenu."