Pleiad
PLEIAD (Gr. HXetas), in Greek literature, the name given (by analogy from PLEIADES, below) by the Alexandrian critics to seven tragic poets who flourished during the reign of Ptolemy 1 The word " pledge " is adapted from the O. Fr. plege, mod. pleige, security, hostage, Med. Lat. plivium. This is a formation form Med. Lat. plevire or plebire, to undertake or engage for someone, cf. " replevin "; it is now considered to be a word of Teutonic origin and connected with Ger. pfiegen and " plight."
Philadelphus (285-247 B.C.). In French literature, in addition to the Pleiad of Charlemagne, there were two famous groups of the kind. The first, during the reign of Henri III. (1574-1589), the chief member of which was Pierre de Ronsard, sought to improve the French language and literature by enthusiastic imitation of the classics; the second, under Louis XIII. (1610- 1643), consisted of authors who excelled in the composition of Latin verse.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
