squirearchy

or squir·ar·chy

[ skwahyuhr-ahr-kee ]

noun

, plural squire·ar·chies.

1. the collective body of squires or landed gentry of a country.
2. the social, economic, and political class formed by the landed gentry.

squirearchy

/ ˈskwaɪəˌrɑːkɪ /

noun

1. government by squires
2. squires collectively, esp as a political or social force

Derived Forms

• squireˈarchal, adjective

Other Words From

• squire·archal squire·archi·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of squirearchy¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; squire + -archy

Word History and Origins

Origin of squirearchy¹

C19: from squire + -archy , on the model of hierarchy , monarchy , etc

Example Sentences

A league was now formed by the bureaucracy, the orthodox clergy, the provincial squirearchy, and some of the proletariat.

From Project Gutenberg

Are the coronets of the nobility to be put up to sale like the acres of the squirearchy?

From Project Gutenberg

He sketched out a system by which this new squirearchy was to be dealt with,—how courted, flattered, and rewarded.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been made to understand clearly that it would be better that he should not enter in upon his squirearchy early in life.

From Project Gutenberg

A few years since some of the most strenuous opponents of railways were to be found among the squirearchy.

From Project Gutenberg