éminence grise Hear it!

éminence grise definition

émi·nence grise (ā mē näns grēz′)

a person who wields great power and influence, but secretly or unofficially

Etymology: Fr, lit., gray eminence, nickname of François Leclerc du Tremblay (1577-1638), Fr monk and confidential agent of, and an assumed influence over, Richelieu: so named from the color of his habit

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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