1. A tribe or collection of families, united under a chieftain, regarded as having the same common ancestor, and bearing the same surname; as, the clan of Macdonald. "I have marshaled my clan." Campbell.
2. A clique; a sect, society, or body of persons; esp., a body of persons united by some common interest or pursuit; — sometimes used contemptuously. Partidge and the rest of his clan may hoot me. Smolett. The whole clan of the enlightened among us. Burke.
CLANCULAR Clan"cu*lar, a. Etym: [L. clancularius , from clanculum secretly, adv. dim. of clam secretly.]
Defn: Conducted with secrecy; clandestine; concealed. [Obs.]
Not close and clancular, but frank and open. Barrow.
CLANCULARLY
Clan"cu*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: privately; secretly. [Obs.]
CLANDESTINE Clan*des"tine, a. Etym: [L. clandestinus, fr. clam secretly; akin to celare, E. conceal: cf. F. clandestin.]
Defn: Conducted with secrecy; withdrawn from public notice, usually for an evil purpose; kept secret; hidden; private; underhand; as, a clandestine marriage. Locke.
Syn.
— Hidden; secret; private; concealed; underhand; sly; stealthy;
surreptitious; furtive; fraudulent.
— Clan*des"tine*ly, adv.
— Clan*des"tine*ness, n.
CLANDESTINITY
Clan`des*tin"i*ty, n.