--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The word “snobbery” came into use for the…" description: "\"“The word “snobbery” came into use for the first time in England during the 1820s. It was said to have derived from the habit of many Oxford and Cambri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/alain-de-botton-221_first-time_the-word-snobbery-came-into-use-for-the_2085609.jpg" --- # The word “snobbery” came into use for the first time in… ![“The word “snobbery” came into use for the first time in England during the 1820s. It was said to have derived from the habit of many Oxford and Cambridge colleges of writing sine nobilitate (without nobility), or “s.nob, ” next to the names of ordinary students on examination lists in order to…” quote by Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/alain-de-botton-221_first-time_the-word-snobbery-came-into-use-for-the_2085609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/alain-de-botton-221_first-time_the-word-snobbery-came-into-use-for-the_2085609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f8/alain-de-botton-221_first-time_the-word-snobbery-came-into-use-for-the_2085609.jpg) > ““The word “snobbery” came into use for the first time in England during the 1820s. It was said to have derived from the habit of many Oxford and Cambridge colleges of writing sine nobilitate (without nobility), or “s.nob, ” next to the names of ordinary students on examination lists in order to distinguish them from their aristocratic peers. In the word’s earliest days, a snob was taken to mean someone without high status, but it quickly assumed its modern and almost diametrically opposed meaning: someone offended by a lack of high status in others,”” [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Snobbery originally meant lack of noble birth, but now describes disdain for those of lower status. **In simple terms:** Snobbery shifted from low birth to contempt for lower status. Key Takeaway Beware judging others by perceived status. Themes class status prejudice Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - workplace - social gatherings - online forums - educational settings Key Concepts social hierarchy linguistic evolution Questions to Reflect On - Why do we still value status? - How does language shape class attitudes? A Different Perspective Modern snobbery can be subtle, making it hard to detect. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Nobilitate Nobility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobilitate-nobility-2647335/) [Snob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snob/) [Snobbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snobbery/) [Snobbery Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snobbery-came-2647333/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Word Snobbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/word-snobbery-2647334/) ## Related quotes > [“The word ‘snobbery’ came into use for the first time in England during the 1820s. It was said to have derived from the habit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-word-snobbery-came-into-use-for-the-first-time-in-england-during/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [What is a snob? A snob is anybody who takes a small part of you and uses that to come to a complete vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/what-is-a-snob-a-snob-is-anybody-who-takes-a-small-part-of-you-and/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“A pleasantly situated hotel close to the sea, and chalets by the water's edge where one breakfasted. Clientele well-to-do, and although I count myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/a-pleasantly-situated-hotel-close-to-the-sea-and-chalets-by-the-water/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [Whenever summer rolls around I begin to realize that I'm a complete and utter book snob. 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