mandarinate (iou)

mandarinate noun. E18.
[from MANDARIN noun1 + -ATE1.]
The position or office of a mandarin; the body of mandarins, mandarins collectively; government by mandarins.
F. Fitzgerald Their aristocracy sent its sons to compete for the mandarinate in the regional examinations. Citizen (Ottawa) The upper mandarinate where access to such information ahead of the rest of the world is a status symbol.