Fili

/ˈfɪli/ noun

Definition

In Irish culture, a class of highly trained poets and learned men who held important status in medieval Celtic society.

Etymology

From Old Irish 'fili' or 'filid' (plural), possibly from Latin 'filius' (son) or from an older Celtic root meaning 'seer' or 'one who knows.' These were privileged scholars and bards.

Kelly Says

The fili were so respected that they had their own schools and legal status—a top fili could actually condemn someone to death through satire, which is wild: words had literal power in Celtic society!

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