1. Plural of clerisy; the educated or literary class, especially clergy and scholars.
Usage: formal; literary; often used to refer to the intellectual or clerical elite of a society

Examples

• The clerisies of medieval Europe preserved knowledge through manuscript copying.
• The clerisies wielded considerable influence over public opinion and policy.
• Different clerisies across regions developed distinct intellectual traditions.
• The rise of printing challenged the monopoly of the clerisies on information.
• Modern clerisies include academics, writers, and cultural commentators.