grandee
noun/ɡrænˈdiː/
/ɡrænˈdiː/
- (in the past) a Spanish or Portuguese nobleman of high rank
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- a person of high social rank and importance
- Is corruption condoned by powerful grandees in government and business?
Word Originlate 16th cent.: from Spanish and Portuguese grande ‘grand’, used as a noun. The change of ending was due to association with -ee.
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