Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) A coalition of persons within a larger group; a clique.

2. (n.) A party, in political society, combined or acting in union, in opposition to the government, or state; -- usually applied to a minority, but it may be applied to a majority; a combination or clique of partisans of any kind, acting for their own interests, especially if greedy, clamorous, and reckless of the common good.

3. (n.) Tumult; discord; dissension.