cliquey
noun
1.
a small, exclusive group of people; coterie; set.
verb (used without object)
2.
Informal. to form, or associate in, a clique.
Origin:
1705–15; < French, apparently metaphorical use of Middle French clique latch, or noun derivative of cliquer to make noise, resound, imitative word parallel to click1
1705–15; < French, apparently metaphorical use of Middle French clique latch, or noun derivative of cliquer to make noise, resound, imitative word parallel to click1
Related forms
clique·less, adjective
cli·quey, cli·quy, adjective
cli·quism, noun
sub·clique, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To cliquey
00:10
Cliquey
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
clique (kliːk, klɪk) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| a small, exclusive group of friends or associates | |
| [C18: from French, perhaps from Old French: latch, from cliquer to click; suggestive of the necessity to exclude nonmembers] | |
| 'cliquish | |
| —adj | |
| 'cliquishly | |
| —adv | |
| 'cliquishness | |
| —n | |
| cliquey or cliquy (ˈkliːkɪ, ˈklɪkɪ, ˈkliːkɪ, ˈklɪkɪ) | |
| —adj , -ier, -iest | |
| exclusive, confined to a small group; forming cliques | |
| cliquy or cliquy | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
clique
1711, from Fr. clique, from O.Fr. cliquer "to make a noise," echoic. Apparently this word was at one time treated as the equivalent of claque.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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