Aristocracy
Webster's Dictionary [1]
(1): (n.) A ruling body composed of the best citizens.
(2): (n.) A form a government, in which the supreme power is vested in the principal persons of a state, or in a privileged order; an oligarchy.
(3): (n.) The nobles or chief persons in a state; a privileged class or patrician order; (in a popular use) those who are regarded as superior to the rest of the community, as in rank, fortune, or intellect.
(4): (n.) Government by the best citizens.
King James Dictionary [2]
Aristo'Cracy, n. Gr. best, and to hold or govern.
A form of government, in which the whole supreme power is vested in the principal persons of a state or in a few men distinguished by their rank and opulence. When the supreme power is exercised by a small number, the government is called an oligarchy. The latter word however is usually applied to a corrupted form of aristocracy.
