Meaning of lose caste | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To lose one's status as a member of one's caste of birth.
   South-Asia
2. To fall in social standing; to suffer a loss of status or reputation.

Examples

“1808, “Moral Character of the Hindoos, in Their Interior Department” in The Literary Panorama, London: C. Taylor, Volume 3, p. 141, Attachment to a master, a family, or a government of a different religion, is that which cannot be produced in the mind⟳ of a Hindoo, while under the power of his Gooroo or his Depta. But if they lose⟳ caste, and embrace Christianity, not by force⟳, but from pure conviction, they become⟳ other men.”

“1857, D. Urquhart, The Rebellion of India, London: D. Bryce, “Mr. Disraeli’s Speech Reviewed,” p. 14, I would now ask⟳ what results could follow⟳ from enforcing on the Indian army the biting of a substance [i.e. cow grease on gunpowder cartridges] which they could not place⟳ between their lips without losing caste, and becoming objects of abhorrence to their co-religionaries, their friends and their families […]”

“An uncle of mine in Delhi thinks that I have⟳ become⟳ polluted, that I have⟳ lost caste by working with leather.”

“He was degraded in their eyes; he had lost caste and station before the very paupers; he had fallen from all the height and pomp of beadleship to the lowest depth of the most snubbed hen-peckery.”

“[…] I don’t know⟳ but that an instructor may lose⟳ caste by eating among a miscellany of undergraduates.”

“Why, with others present⟳, it would be worse than if I had accused him of raping an old woman […] Bledsoe would disintegrate, disinflate! With a profound sigh⟳ he’d drop his head in shame. He’d lose⟳ caste. The weekly newspapers would attack him. […] His rivals would denounce him as a bad example for the youth.”

CEFR level