éminence grise

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See also: eminence grise

English

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Etymology

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Borrowed from French éminence grise (literally grey eminence), originally applied to François Leclerc du Tremblay (1577–1638), also known as Père Joseph, a French Capuchin friar who was the confidant and agent of Cardinal Richelieu (1585–1642), the chief minister of France under Louis XIII (1601–1643). The term refers to du Tremblay’s influence over the Cardinal (who bore the honorific of Eminence), and the colour of his habit (grey, rather than the red of a cardinal).[1]

Pronunciation

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  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): (also of éminences grises) /ˌɛmɪnɒns ˈɡɹiːz/, /ˌeɪ-/
  • (General American) IPA(key): (also of éminences grises) /ˌɛmɪnɑns ˈɡɹiz/, /ˌeɪ-/
  • Rhymes: -iːz
  • Hyphenation: émi‧nence grise
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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éminence grise (plural éminences grises or éminence grises)

  1. (idiomatic) A secret or unofficial decision-maker.
    Synonyms: power behind the throne, gray eminence

Alternative forms

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Translations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ éminence grise, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, June 2018; éminence grise, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Further reading

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French

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Etymology

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From éminence + grise, originally applied to François Leclerc du Tremblay (1577–1638), also known as Père Joseph, a French Capuchin friar who was the confidant and agent of Cardinal Richelieu (1585–1642), the chief minister of France under Louis XIII (1601–1643). The term refers to du Tremblay’s influence over the Cardinal (who bore the honorific of Eminence), and the colour of his habit.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /e.mi.nɑ̃s ɡʁiz/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: émi‧nence grise

Noun

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éminence grise f (plural éminences grises)

  1. (idiomatic) éminence grise

Descendants

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  • English: éminence grise
  • German: graue Eminenz (calque)