Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The chief of an imaginary secret society called the ‘Eleutheri.’

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Doubtless, thought Scythrop, this is one of my seven golden candlesticks, and at once offered her the asylum of his secret apartments, assuring her she might rely on the honour of a transcendental eleutherarch.

    The World's Greatest Books — Volume 07 — Fiction Various 1910

  • If you would like to remain there a day or two, till I can find you a more suitable concealment, you may rely on the honour of a transcendental eleutherarch. '

    Nightmare Abbey Thomas Love Peacock 1825

Comments

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  • He slept with Horrid Mysteries under his pillow, and dreamed of venerable eleutherarchs and ghastly confederates holding midnight conventions in subterranean caves.

    - Thomas Love Peacock, Nightmare Abbey, ch. 2

    September 3, 2008

  • I just checked the OED definition: 'The chief of an (imaginary) secret society called "the Eleutheri".' (The Peacock citation is 1817, and the other two are 1813, with the first being T.J. Hogg's Memoirs of Prince Alexy Haimatoff.)

    September 3, 2008

  • And the other quote is Shelley, as I guessed: Peacock's hero of Nightmare Abbey, Scythrop Glowry, was a portrait of Shelley.

    September 3, 2008

  • It's a very funny short novel - 'Byron' has a hilarious cameo part.

    September 3, 2008