1. (n.) A secret group that seeks power usually through intrigue or plots to overthrow a government\.

2. (n.) A secret.

3. (n.) A number of persons united in some close design, usually to promote their private views and interests in church or state by intrigue; a secret association composed of a few designing persons; a junto.

4. (n.) The secret artifices or machinations of a few persons united in a close design; intrigue.

5. (v. i.) To unite in a small party to promote private views and interests by intrigue; to intrigue; to plot.

Anschluss addition affiliation age group agglomeration aggregation agreement alliance amalgamation artifice assimilation association band battalion bevy blend blending body brigade bunch cadre camarilla cartel cast caucus cell centralization charmed circle circle clan clique closed circle club coalescence coalition cohort collusion combination combine combo company complement complicity complot composition confederacy confederation congeries conglomeration conjugation conjunction connivance connive consolidation conspiracy conspire contingent contrivance contriving corps coterie counterplot covey covin crew crowd deep-laid plot detachment detail division ecumenism elite elite group embodiment encompassment engineering enosis faction federalization federation finagling finesse fleet frame-up fusion game gang group grouping groupment hookup in-group inclusion incorporation ingroup inner circle integration intrigue junction junta junto league little game machinate machination maneuvering manipulation marriage meld melding merger mob movement out-group outfit pack package package deal party peer group phalanx platoon plot plotting posse regiment rigging ring salon scheme schemery scheming set solidification squad stable stratagem string syncretism syndication syneresis synthesis team tie-up tribe trick troop troupe underplot unification union unit we-group web of intrigue wedding wing wire-pulling