secret society

Definitions

1. 1

   A club, fraternal organization, or other association which admits only selected…

   A club, fraternal organization, or other association which admits only selected individuals as members, whose meetings and practices are often ritualistic and not public, and which often has the purpose of furthering the social or economic opportunities of its members.

   • Ben had much fun out of it, assuring the other boys that those were the signs and password of a secret society to which he and Sam belonged.
   • But these Brothers of Pity were a secret society, known to no man except their spiritual head, who chose them in turn, and not knowing even each other.
   • Originally a secret society, B'nai B'rith came into the open in 1920 with publication of its ritual.
2. 2

   A criminal gang.

   • […] obedience and loyalty were also 'important bywords' to the Ghee Hin, Ghee Hok and Ho Seng secret societies […]

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