optimacy

English

Etymology

Compare French optimatie. See optimate.

Noun

optimacy (countable and uncountable, plural optimacies)

1. government by the nobility
   • 1640, I. H. [i.e., James Howell], ΔΕΝΔΡΟΛΟΓΊΑ [DENDROLOGIA]. Dodona’s Grove, or, The Vocall Forrest, London: […] T[homas] B[adger] for H. Mosley [i.e., Humphrey Moseley] […], →OCLC:

     mixture 'twixt Monarchy, Optimacy, and Democracy

2. the nobility, collectively
3. a most favourable condition or state

References

“optimacy”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.