clerisy

Thân thiện

The clerisy gathered in the library for a scholarly discussion.

Definition

Noun: 1. An educated and intellectual elite; the class of learned or literary people in a society. The term refers to a group distinguished by their intellectual pursuits, knowledge, and cultural influence, often seen as the guardians of a society's high culture and learning.

Usage

The word "clerisy" is a formal and somewhat literary term. It is used to describe a collective body of intellectuals, scholars, and highly educated individuals who are considered the cultural and intellectual leaders of their time or society.

Examples

• The poet saw it as the duty of the clerisy to uphold moral and aesthetic standards in an age of commercialism.
• The conference brought together members of the scientific clerisy to debate the ethical implications of the new technology.
• In his essay, he lamented the declining influence of the clerisy in modern popular culture.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes carry a connotation of a somewhat exclusive or detached intellectual class, separate from the general populace.
• It is often used in discussions about the sociology of knowledge, cultural criticism, and the history of ideas.

Variants and Related Words

• Clergy (noun): While sounding similar, "clergy" refers specifically to the body of people ordained for religious duties. The words share an etymological root (from "clerk," meaning a literate person), but their modern meanings are distinct.
• Intelligentsia (noun): A very close synonym, also referring to intellectuals and highly educated people as a group, especially those interested in culture and politics.

Synonyms

• Intelligentsia
• Literati
• Cognoscenti
• The educated class
• The intellectual elite

Antonyms

• The masses
• The laity (in a secular context)
• The uneducated

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Guardians of culture: A phrase describing a role often attributed to the clerisy.
• The republic of letters: A historical term for the community of writers and scholars across nations, closely related to the concept of a clerisy.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an educated and intellectual elite

Từ đồng nghĩa

• intelligentsia