I. ˈsäb intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English snobben, of imitative origin
archaic : to sob violently
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. dialect Britain
a. : shoemaker , cobbler
b. : a shoemaker's apprentice
2.
a. archaic : a person not belonging to the upper classes : one not an aristocrat : commoner , plebeian
b. : one who blatantly imitates, fawningly admires, or vulgarly seeks association with those he regards as his superiors
a snob … would put up with any affront … would ignore any rebuff … would swallow any rudeness to get asked to a party he wanted to go to — W.S.Maugham
c.
(1) : one who tends to rebuff the advances of those he regards as inferior : one convinced of his superiority : one inclined to social exclusiveness
a wealthy snob … who was anxious to pursue his family tree — Wallace Clare
incurable old-fashioned snobs who regard trade as beneath the dignity of their family — G.B.Shaw
(2) : one rightly or especially wrongly convinced of his superior knowledge or taste within a field or of the intrinsic superiority of his field of interest or hobby
every seat taken by music lovers (not musical snobs ) — Janet Flanner
all of us, except a few academic snobs, know full well that a Ph.D. is no indication of good teaching — S.H.Horton
3. : a game based on cricket and played typically with a stick for a bat and a soft ball
III. transitive verb
( snobbed ; snobbed ; snobbing ; snobs )
: to look down upon : snub