noun.
A small, often select group of persons who associate with one another frequently.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
noun.
A set or circle of persons who are in the habit of meeting for social, scientific, or literary intercourse, or other purposes; especially, a clique.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
noun.
A set or circle of persons who meet familiarly, as for social, literary, or other purposes; a clique.