- To be in conclave
- 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.
[1913 Webster]
2. The body of cardinals shut up in the conclave for the election of a pope; hence, the body of cardinals. [1913 Webster]
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. [1913 Webster]
3. A private meeting; a close or secret assembly. [1913 Webster]
The verdicts pronounced by this conclave (Johnson's Club) on new books, were speedily known over all London. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
{To be in conclave}, to be engaged in a secret meeting; -- said of several, or a considerable number of, persons. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.