Entourage Crossword Clue

Entourage crossword clue in Australia newspaper’s The-Chronicle. Jumbo Crossword, 7 letters on May 6, 2017.

The answer is RETINUE

Other synonym are CIRCUIT – COMPANY – COMPASS – CONTEXT – CORTEGE – GESTALT – HABITAT – OUTPOST – SUBURBS

A retinue is sometimes confused with an entourage, which is the far less stable body of people that followed whether or not they were – or claimed to be – retained or protected by the prominent person they served.

For example, a prince’s entourage would not only include professional courtiers, but also various bishops, clerics and other clerks, senior members of the aristocracy and other more occasional advisers, translators et cetera, who would often not be part of a sovereign’s (more permanent) retinue, even though that could comprise a surprising variety of functions, from menial to lofty.

The Roman Cohors amicorum was rather similar, and this use of the word cohort (derived from a battalion-size military unit) for a dignitary’s ‘friends’ was the root of the Italian word corte ‘court’, which via the French cortège gave rise to cortege, which can also mean a train of attendants.