Advertisement

Advertisement

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • squireˈarchal, adjective
Discover More

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of squirearchy1

First recorded in 1795–1805; squire + -archy
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of squirearchy1

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

Example Sentences

America's ruling class, both during the colonial period and the early decades of independence, was a direct offshoot of English squirearchy.

From Salon

Some of the Prussian squirearchy are now making their way to the port.

The squirearchy of Cornwall, flush of money, through tin, pulled down their old residences and built mansions in the Georgian period, totally devoid of interest.

The vicar's new fad, as it was called, did not excite the same amount of hostility amongst the squirearchy of the neighbourhood as his effort at education, but the farmers liked it as ill.

The country was thus settled by a resident squirearchy of an almost English type.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


squirearchsquiredom