from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Conclave \Con"clave\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F., fr. L. conclave a
room that may locked up; con- + clavis key. See {Clavicle}.]
1. The set of apartments within which the cardinals of the
Roman Catholic Church are continuously secluded while
engaged in choosing a pope.
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2. The body of cardinals shut up in the conclave for the
election of a pope; hence, the body of cardinals.
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It was said a cardinal, by reason of his apparent
likelihood to step into St. Peter's chair, that in
two conclaves he went in pope and came out again
cardinal. --South.
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3. A private meeting; a close or secret assembly.
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The verdicts pronounced by this conclave (Johnson's
Club) on new books, were speedily known over all
London. --Macaulay.
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{To be in conclave}, to be engaged in a secret meeting; --
said of several, or a considerable number of, persons.
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