literati

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Latin lītera Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātus Latin līterātībor. English literati From Latin līterātī, plural of līterātus (“lettered, literate”).

1. Well-educated, literary people; intellectuals who are interested in literature.

   “First, to Counsellor Fitzclabber, who, he told me, was then employed in compiling a history of the kings of Minster, from Irish manuscripts; and then to his friend Mr. Gahagan, who was a profound philosopher and politician, and had projected many excellent schemes for the good of his country. But it seems these literati had been very ill rewarded for their ingenious labours; for, between them both, there was but one shirt, and half a pair of breeches.”

   “He is not of the people, this lordly magistrate. He is one of the privileged literati. His literary degrees are high and numerous.”