ˈplēəd also ˈplīəd noun
( -s )
Etymology: French Pléiade, a group of 7 16th century French poets, from Middle French, from Pléiade, a group of 7 tragic poets of ancient Alexandria, from Greek Pleiades, Plēïades, plural, from Pleiades, Plēïades, 7 stars in the constellation Taurus
: a group or cluster of illustrious or brilliant persons or things usually seven in number
educated a brilliant pleiad of great masters of painting — Encyc. Americana