agentryn.
/ˈeɪdʒəntri/, U.S. /ˈeɪdʒəntri/, Scottish English /ˈedʒəntrɪ/ Originally Scottish.
The office or function of an agent (in various senses); the activity or occupation of an agent or agency; the process or fact of being an agent. Also: agents collectively.Cf. press agentry n.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > delegated authority > one having delegated or derived authority > [noun] > one who acts for another > position of
factorshipc1550
factory1560
agentry1590
factoryship1836
society > authority > delegated authority > one having delegated or derived authority > [noun] > one who acts for another > body of
agentry1590
factorage1849
1590 in J. D. Marwick Rec. Convent. Royal Burghs Scotl. (1870) I. 320 The said..Williamis guid seruice to thame, induiring the tyme of his office of agenerye.
1638 in C. Innes Fasti Aberdonenses (1854) 412 His alledgit commissione or power of agentrie to the generall assemblie.
1766 Church in Danger I. 105 This process had been during fourteen sessions, protracted by Lord Minto, by tricks not of agentry, but of priestcraft.
1815 R. Bell Dict. Law Scotl. (ed. 2) II. at Prævento Termino This delay originated in a piece of shameful agentry.
1890 Legislative Documents 23rd Gen. Assembly State of Iowa 3 160 The English and American companies' agentry.
1955 Billboard 25 June 70/2 (heading) Bands and agentry.
1987 Economist 29 Aug. 28/1 A marine guard..blurted out a tale of freelance double agentry.
1992 Spy Mar. 20/1 Ovitz's..career goal—to rise above mere agentry.
2003 New Yorker 24 Mar. 47/1 He was neatly attired in the garb of agentry—blazer, gray flannel trousers, cashmere sweater.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1590