Friendly society (4)

I believe the answer is:

club

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'society' is the definition.
(I know that society can be written as club)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for club that I've seen before include "Staff - association" , "'Short stick, card suit and association (4)'" , "Place to meet one's friends with a weapon" , "women expect to be in" , "Weapon; playing card" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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