Family Compact
Britishnoun
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the ruling oligarchy in Upper Canada in the early 19th century
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(often not capitals) any influential clique
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It seemed that the Family Compact oligarchy would have everything in their own hands.
From Egerton Ryerson and Education in Upper Canada by Putnam, J. Harold
He allied himself with the Family Compact, and was guided by the advice of that body in his administration of public affairs.
From The Canadian Portrait Gallery - Volumes 1 to 4 by Dent, John Charles
Too many of our historians write as if all the members of the Family Compact had been selfish and corrupt, and all our present statesmen were altruistic and pure.
From The Tribune of Nova Scotia A Chronicle of Joseph Howe by Grant, W. L. (William Lawson)
Walpole was thinking, no doubt, of the Family Compact, and of "the King over the Water."
From A History of the Four Georges, Volume II by McCarthy, Justin
"Family Compact," the, Political views, and position of, 18, 60 et sqq.,
From British Supremacy & Canadian Self-Government, 1839-1854 by Morison, J. L. (John Lyle)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
