Word
conclave
Phoneticscon·clave
US/ˈkɑnˌkɫeɪv/
UK/kˈɒnkleɪv/
Definition
n. a secret meeting of a small group of people, especially when they are choosing a leader. It is most famous for the meeting where the Catholic Church picks a new pope.
n. a secret meeting of a small group of people, typically for the purpose of electing a leader. In modern usage, it most frequently refers to the assembly of cardinals convened to elect a new pope.
Examples
“The cardinals met in a conclave to choose the new leader.”
“After the previous pope passed away, the world waited for the results of the conclave held in the Sistine Chapel.”
“The term conclave has largely been restricted to ecclesiastical contexts, though it occasionally appears in historical accounts of political cabals that sought to manipulate the selection of a monarch.”
Examples
simple
“The cardinals met in a conclave to choose the new leader.”
contextual
“After the previous pope passed away, the world waited for the results of the conclave held in the Sistine Chapel.”
complex
“The term conclave has largely been restricted to ecclesiastical contexts, though it occasionally appears in historical accounts of political cabals that sought to manipulate the selection of a monarch.”
Real-World Examples
“Instead, beginning in 1274, a conclave of cardinals elected the pope.” Etymology
PIE word *ḱóm The noun is derived from Late Middle English conclave (“private chamber; (Roman Catholicism) private room where election of the Pope takes place; meeting held for this purpose”), borrowed from Middle French conclave (modern French conclave), or directly from its etymon Latin conclāve (“chamber, room; enclosed space that can be locked; dining hall”), from con- (prefix denoting a being or bringing together of several objects) (combining form of cum (“(along) with”)) + clāvis (“key”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂w- (“(noun) crook, hook; peg; (verb) to close”)). The verb is derived from the noun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The word in film
Conclave · 2024 · Mystery
- Directed by:
- Edward Berger
- Starring:
- Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini, John Lithgow
Director Edward Berger explores the intense secrecy and political tension inside the Vatican as high-ranking officials gather to select a new pope. Ralph Fiennes stars as the cardinal responsible for managing this private election while uncovering hidden scandals.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/conclave