different between brahminical vs brahmin

English

Alternative forms

• Brahminical
• Braminical (dated)

Etymology

brahmin +? -ical

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /br??m?n?k?l/

Adjective

brahminical (not comparable)

1. Of or relating to brahmins or Brahmanism.
   • 1901, Rudyard Kipling, Kim, Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Chapter 11, p. 254,^[1]

     Now the Jains officially recognise all the Gods of the Hindu creed, as well as the Lingam and the Snake. They wear the Brahminical thread; they adhere to every claim of Hindu caste-law.

   • 1961, V. S. Naipaul, A House for Mr Biswas, Penguin, 1992, Part 2, Chapter 4, p. 435,^[2]

     Despite the strict brahminical régime of his household, W. C. Tuttle was all for modernity.

   • 1995, Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance, London: Faber & Faber, 1997, Chapter 3, p. 113,^[3]

     [Pandit Lalluram] pivoted on one buttock and broke wind. Dukhi leaned back to allow it free passage, wondering what penalty might adhere to the offence of interfering with the waft of brahminical flatus.

English

Alternative forms

• Brahmin, brahman
• Bramin (dated)

Etymology

From Sanskrit ???????? (br??hma?a).

Noun

brahmin (plural brahmins)

1. A member of the Hindu priestly caste, one of the four varnas or social groups based on occupation in ancient Hindu society.

   Synonym: brahmana

2. One who has realized or attempts to realize Brahman, i.e. God or supreme knowledge.
3. A scholar, teacher, priest, intellectual, researcher, scientist, knowledge-seeker, or knowledge worker.
4. A member of a social and cultural elite, especially in the New England region of the USA.
   • 2018, Zach Dorfman, "How to Kill a Presidential Scandal," Foreign Policy:

     In Iran-Contra, the independent counsel investigating the scandal, Lawrence Walsh, was a deadly serious Brahmin lawyer with a sterling Republican pedigree; he nevertheless faced withering criticism from members of his own party, just as special counsel Robert Mueller has as he investigates Trump and his circle.

5. A learned person of refined taste and mild manners.

Related terms

• Boston Brahmin
• brahminical

Translations

Adjective

brahmin (not comparable)

1. Scholarly.

Synonyms

• brahminic
• brahminical

Translations