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