Moving-spirit definition

He has left us two detailed accounts of the proceedings of the council of St Basle; and, despite his reticence, it is impossible to doubt that he was the moving spirit in Arnulf's deposition.

It was stated in a leaflet circulated throughout Paris that Favras had organized a plot of which the count of Provence was the moving spirit.

He was the moving spirit of the sentant du peuple and other journals, in which the most advanced theories were advocated in the strongest language; and as member of assembly for the Seine department he brought forward his celebrated proposal of exacting an impost of onethird on interest and rent, which of course was rejected.

They had seen the success of the Slav committees in treating disturbances in the Balkans, and became the moving spirit in the attempts to produce similar troubles in Armenia.