Aristocracy ( Greek ἀριστοκρατία aristokratía , from ἄριστος aristos `` excellent , '' and κράτος kratos `` power '' ) is a form of government that places power in the hands of a small , privileged ruling class . The term derives from the Greek aristokratia , meaning `` rule of the best '' .
Aristocracy is derived from the Greek word for "rule of the best".