conclave

[kon-kleyv, kong-]

See more synonyms for conclave on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

Origin of conclave

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin, Latin conclāve room, enclosed space, representing (camera) cum clāve (room) with key. See con-, clef

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for conclave

confab, powwow, conference, gathering, assembly, parley, huddle, cabinet, session, council, meet, encounter, get-together

Examples from the Web for conclave

Contemporary Examples of conclave

He quotes an unnamed cardinal saying that the conclave voters knew the charges were false.
How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF
Jason Berry
December 21, 2014
Days later, Bergoglio was elected pope by a conclave of cardinals.
The Pope and the Queen to Square up Over Falklands
Tom Kington
April 2, 2014
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, Asia
Barbie Latza Nadeau
January 12, 2014
And this spoon,” (set it atop the potatoes), “… is the Vatican conclave.
Crushing Christmas: How to Win Every Argument
Kelly Williams Brown
December 24, 2013
But perhaps the most telling tale to come out of the conclave is from the post-election dinner on Wednesday night.
Conspiracy Theories Behind Pope Francis’s Election
Barbie Latza Nadeau
March 14, 2013

Historical Examples of conclave

First the Conclave, the three scrutators, and himself as one of them.
The Eternal City
Hall Caine
While seated in conclave outside the camp, we suddenly were aware of a great hubbub.
Anabasis
Xenophon
But while the soldiers were still seated in conclave, Coeratadas, of Thebes, arrived.
Anabasis
Xenophon
Conclave of the tribes could put him on the throne tomorrow morning.
The Best Made Plans
Everett B. Cole
There'd be a deadlock when a conclave started checking their claims.
The Best Made Plans
Everett B. Cole

British Dictionary definitions for conclave

conclave

noun

a confidential or secret meeting
RC Church
1. the closed apartments where the college of cardinals elects a new pope
2. a meeting of the college of cardinals for this purpose

Derived Formsconclavist, noun

Word Origin for conclave

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for conclave

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.