coterie
UK: ˈkəʊtəri | US: ˈkoʊtəri
n. a small, exclusive group of people with shared interests or tastes
The word "coterie" originated in 18th-century French, derived from "cote" (meaning "cottage" or "shelter"), referencing a group of peasants sharing a communal living space. The suffix "-erie" denotes a collective or association. Over time, it evolved to describe any tight-knit, exclusive circle, often with a connotation of elitism or shared identity. The shift from literal shelter to metaphorical social grouping reflects the word's logical progression.
The literary coterie met weekly to discuss modernist poetry.
She was never accepted into the fashionable coterie of artists.
The politician surrounded himself with a loyal coterie of advisors.
Their coterie was known for its avant-garde tastes in cinema.
The university’s philosophy coterie published an obscure journal.