conclave
[kon-kleyv, kong-]
- a private or secret meeting.
- an assembly or gathering, especially one that has special authority, power, or influence: a conclave of political leaders.
- the assembly or meeting of the cardinals for the election of a pope.
- the body of cardinals; the College of Cardinals.
- the place in which the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church meet in private for the election of a pope.
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Origin of conclave
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for conclave
Contemporary Examples
He quotes an unnamed cardinal saying that the conclave voters knew the charges were false.
Days later, Bergoglio was elected pope by a conclave of cardinals.
Also expected was the Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, who will put the United Kingdom back on the conclave map.
Pope Appoints a Rainbow Coalition of New Cardinals From Africa, AsiaBarbie Latza Nadeau
January 12, 2014
And this spoon,” (set it atop the potatoes), “… is the Vatican conclave.
But perhaps the most telling tale to come out of the conclave is from the post-election dinner on Wednesday night.
Historical Examples
First the Conclave, the three scrutators, and himself as one of them.
The Eternal CityHall Caine
While seated in conclave outside the camp, we suddenly were aware of a great hubbub.
AnabasisXenophon
But while the soldiers were still seated in conclave, Coeratadas, of Thebes, arrived.
AnabasisXenophon
Conclave of the tribes could put him on the throne tomorrow morning.
The Best Made PlansEverett B. Cole
There'd be a deadlock when a conclave started checking their claims.
The Best Made PlansEverett B. Cole
conclave
- a confidential or secret meeting
- RC Church
- the closed apartments where the college of cardinals elects a new pope
- a meeting of the college of cardinals for this purpose
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Word Origin
C14: from Medieval Latin conclāve, from Latin: cage, place that may be locked, from clāvis key
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for conclave
n.
late 14c., "a place where cardinals meet to elect a pope," from Italian conclave, from Latin conclave "a room, chamber suite," probably originally "a room which may be locked," from com- "together" (see com-) + clavis "a key" (see slot (n.2)). Extended sense of "private assembly" is first recorded 1560s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper