To lose caste

To lose caste
Caste Caste, n. [Pg. casta race, lineage, fr. L. castus pure, chaste: cf. F. caste, of same origin.] 1. One of the hereditary classes into which the Hindu are divided according to the laws of Brahmanism. [1913 Webster]

Note: The members of the same caste are theoretically of equal rank, and same profession or occupation, and may not eat or intermarry with those not of their own caste. The original are four, viz., the Brahmans, or sacerdotal order; the Kshatriyas, or soldiers and rulers; the Vaisyas, or husbandmen and merchants; and the Sudras, or laborers and mechanics. Men of no caste are Pariahs, outcasts. Numerous mixed classes, or castes, have sprung up in the progress of time. [1913 Webster]

2. A separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly hold intercourse among themselves. [1913 Webster]

The tinkers then formed an hereditary caste. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

{To lose caste}, to be degraded from the caste to which one has belonged; to lose social position or consideration. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • lose caste — To descend in social rank • • • Main Entry: ↑caste …   Useful english dictionary

  • lose caste — descend in status. → caste …   English new terms dictionary

  • lose caste — Be disgraced …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • Caste — Caste, n. [Pg. casta race, lineage, fr. L. castus pure, chaste: cf. F. caste, of same origin.] 1. One of the hereditary classes into which the Hindu are divided according to the laws of Brahmanism. [1913 Webster] Note: The members of the same… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • caste — [kast, käst] n. [Fr < Port casta, breed, race, caste < L castus, pure, chaste, orig., cut off, separated, pp. of carere, to be cut off from < IE base * k̑es , to cut > MIr cess, spear] 1. any of the distinct, hereditary Hindu social… …   English World dictionary

  • Caste system in Sri Lanka — The Caste system in Sri Lanka is a division of society into strata, differing somewhat from the classic Varnas of North India but is similar in nature to the Jāti system found in South India. The fourfold caste model in Sri Lanka s pre British… …   Wikipedia

  • caste — casteism, n. casteless, adj. /kast, kahst/, n. 1. Sociol. a. an endogamous and hereditary social group limited to persons of the same rank, occupation, economic position, etc., and having mores distinguishing it from other such groups. b. any… …   Universalium

  • caste — n. 1 any of the Hindu hereditary classes whose members have no social contact with other classes, but are socially equal with one another and often follow the same occupations. 2 a more or less exclusive social class. 3 a system of such classes.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • caste — noun (C, U) 1 one of the fixed and unchangeable social classes into which people are born in India, or the system of having these classes 2 a group of people who have the same position in society: lose caste BrE (=lose your social position) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • caste — [[t]kæst, kɑst[/t]] n. 1) ear any of the hereditary social divisions of traditional Hindu society, as the Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Shudra 2) soc an endogamous social group limited to persons of the same hereditary rank, occupation,… …   From formal English to slang

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