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A narrow circle of persons associated by common interests or for the accomplishment of a common purpose; -- generally used in a bad sense.

A company of secret and irresponsible advisers, as of a king; a cabal or clique.

A clique; a sect, society, or body of persons; esp., a body of persons united by some common interest or pursuit; -- sometimes used contemptuously. Partidge and the rest of his clan may hoot me. Smolett. The whole clan of the enlightened among us. Burke.

ing to a clan; closely united, like a clan; disposed to associate only with one's clan or clique; actuated by the traditions, prejudices, habits, etc., of a clan. -- Clan"nish*ly, adv. -- Clan"nish*ness, n.

Of or pertaining to a clique; disposed to from cliques; exclusive in spirit. -- Cli"*quish*ness, n.

The tendency to associate in cliques; the spirit of cliques.

t or circle of persons who meet familiarly, as for social, literary, or other purposes; a clique. "The queen of your coterie." Thackeray.

; -- usually applied to a minority, but it may be applied to a majority; a combination or clique of partisans of any kind, acting for their own interests, especially if greedy, clamorous, and reckless of the common good.

A cluster of persons or things; a collection; a group; a hand; a clique; as, a knot of politicians. "Knots of talk." Tennyson. His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries. Shak. Palms in cluster, knots of Paradise. Tennyson. As they sat together in small, separate knots, they discussed doctrinal and metaphysical points o…

An assembly or clique of pedants. [Obs.] Milton.

A clique; an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish purpose, as to control the market, distribute offices, obtain contracts, etc. The ruling ring at Constantinople. E. A. Freeman. Ring armor, armor composed of rings of metal. See Ring mail, below, and Chain mail, under Chain. -- Ring blackbird (Zoöl.), the rin…

ssociated by custom, office, common opinion, quality, or the like; a division; a group; a clique. "Others of our set." Tennyson. This falls into different divisions, or sets, of nations connected under particular religions. R. P. Ward.