squirearchy

• Members of all parties are implicated, but the term squirearchy is usually used with regard to the Conservative Party, which is traditionally the party of the wealthy.
• The word squirearchy has not been invented by the current crop of newspaper sub-editors.
• I did not, for some time, guess where his words were leading I have been a very careful observer of English life," he said, "ever since I first came to this country, and no class in your nation has interested me more than you minor gentry, the second grade of your aristocracy Often spoken of as the squirearchy," I said. —  Gossamer 1915
• Fashion soon changes, thought I eagerly to myself; a time will come, and that speedily, when he will be no longer in the fashion; when this idiotic admirer of his, who is still grinning at my side, shall have ceased to mould his style on Byron's; and this aristocracy, squirearchy, and what not, who now send their empty carriages to pay respect to the fashionable corpse, shall have transferred their empty worship to some other animate or inanimate thing. —  Lavengro The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest
• Fashion soon changes, thought I, eagerly to myself--a time will come, and that speedily, when he will be no longer in the fashion; when this idiotic admirer of his, who is still grinning at my side, shall have ceased to mould his style on Byron's; and this aristocracy, squirearchy, and what not, who now send their empty carriages to pay respect to the fashionable corpse, shall have transferred their empty worship to some other animate or inanimate thing. —  Lavengro The Scholar - The Gypsy - The Priest, Vol. 1 (of 2)

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