clique, coterie

clique, coterie
A clique (preferably pronounced "kleek") is a small, exclusive group or set of people. So is a coterie. But clique is usually a term of contempt or derision applied to persons who take themselves too seriously, set themselves up as authorities, and act selfishly. Coterie is less often used as a term of contempt and is more likely to apply to groups in the world of art than to those in society generally."Barbara belongs to a snobbish clique of the country club set." "This performance is designed for a coterie of dedicated lovers of music."

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • coterie — See clique. See clique, coterie …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • clique — See clique, coterie …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • clique — [ klik ] n. f. • XIVe; de l a. fr. cliquer « faire du bruit » → clic 1 ♦ Fam. Coterie, groupe de personnes peu estimables. ⇒ 2. bande, cabale. « Puzzini ameute sa clique, me dénonce au ministre » (P. L. Courier). Il est venu avec toute sa clique …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • coterie — [ kɔtri ] n. f. • 1660; « association de paysans » 1611; de cotier (XIIIe); rac. germ. kote « cabane »; cf. cottage ♦ Péj. Réunion de personnes soutenant ensemble leurs intérêts. ⇒ association, 2. bande, caste, chapelle, clan, clique, secte,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • coterie — [kōt′ə rē] n. [Fr, orig., organization of peasants holding land from a feudal lord < OFr cotier,COTTER1] a close circle of friends who share a common interest or background; clique SYN. COTERIE is a small, intimate, somewhat select group of… …   English World dictionary

  • clique — [klik, klēk] n. [Fr < OFr cliquer, to make a noise: of echoic orig.] a small, exclusive circle of people; snobbish or narrow coterie SYN. COTERIE cliquish [klēk′ish, klik′ish] adj. cliquey cliquy [klēk′ē, klik′ē] cliquishly adv. cliquishness n …   English World dictionary

  • Coterie — Co te*rie (k? te r? ; 277), n. [F., prob. from OF. coterie servile tenure, fr. colier cotter; of German origin. See 1st {Cot}.] A set or circle of persons who meet familiarly, as for social, literary, or other purposes; a clique. The queen of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Coterie — may refer to Clique The Coterie, a British society Dōjinshi A family group of black tailed and Mexican prairie dogs This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an …   Wikipedia

  • coterie — circle, *set, clique …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • clique — *set, circle, coterie Analogous words: party, faction, bloc, ring, combine, *combination …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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