coven

This term carries a heavy atmospheric weight, evoking images of mysticism, secrecy, and the occult. While its primary use refers to practitioners of witchcraft, it is often used in a literary or cinematic context to suggest a ritualistic or supernatural bond between members. When applied to non-magical groups, the word becomes a pejorative metaphor. It suggests that a group is not merely private, but maliciously secretive or conspiratorial, implying a sinister agenda similar to a dark ritual.