Conclave
/ˈkɒn.kleɪv/noun
A private meeting or a gathering of cardinals to elect a pope.
Did you know?Conclave comes from Latin words meaning “with a key,” a direct reference to cardinals being locked in until they chose a pope, turning a word for enclosure into a symbol of hidden power.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
cum clave
“with a key; locked in”
Late Latin
Latin
conclave
“a locked room; private chamber”
Medieval Latin
Latin
conclave
“the assembly of cardinals meeting in seclusion”
14th Century
English
conclave
“a private chamber or secluded meeting”
Modern English
English
conclave
“a secret or formal private meeting, especially of cardinals”