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| The Writer (art by Joan M. Mas) |
CLERISY
Noun. Early 19th century.
[Apparently after German Klerisei, formed as CLERIC.]
A distinct class of learned or literary persons.
I like clerisy, not that I claim for a moment to be a member of it; it's less exclusive than intelligentsia, and less pretentious than literati. It also sounds a little bit like heresy, which gives it a slightly subversive, revolutionary edge. Yup, I like clerisy. Maybe one day I'll be able to be a part of it. It's better than the booboisie anyway.
Are you a member of the clerisy?
Would you like to be?
Do please leave your most cleritical comments in the box below.
My initial reaction was that it'd be a lovely name for a kitten.
ReplyDeleteThat probably means I don't qualify, then, doesn't it.
That's funny, because I thought it sounds like a very middle class girl's name: Clerisy Bonham-Cruftsbottom, of the Dragon School, Oxford.
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