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conclave

 - 3 dictionary results

con⋅clave

  [kon-kleyv, kong-]
Use conclave in a Sentence
–noun
1. a private or secret meeting.
2. an assembly or gathering, esp. one that has special authority, power, or influence: a conclave of political leaders.
3. the assembly or meeting of the cardinals for the election of a pope.
4. the body of cardinals; the College of Cardinals.
5. the place in which the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church meet in private for the election of a pope.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML, L conclāve room, enclosed space, repr. (camera) cum clāve (room) with key. See con-, clef
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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con·clave   (kŏn'klāv', kŏng'-)   
n.  

  1. A secret or confidential meeting.

  2. Roman Catholic Church

    1. The private rooms in which the cardinals meet to elect a new pope.

    2. The meeting held to elect a new pope.

  3. A meeting of family members or associates.


[Middle English, private chamber, conclave of cardinals, from Latin conclāve, lockable room : com-, com- + clāvis, key.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

conclave 
1393, from It., from L. conclave "a room which may be locked," from com- "together" + clavis "a key" (see slot (2)). Earliest use is "a place where cardinals meet to elect a pope." Extended sense of "private assembly" is first recorded 1568.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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