éminence grise

ém·i·nence grise

E0112000 (ā-mē-näNs grēz′)n. pl. ém·i·nence grises (ā-mē-näNs grēz′) A powerful adviser or decision maker who operates secretly or unofficially. Also called gray eminence.

[French, the power behind the throne : éminence, power + grise, feminine of gris, gray, shadowy.]

éminence grise

(eminɑ̃s ɡriz) n, pl éminences grises (eminɑ̃s ɡriz) a person who wields power and influence unofficially or behind the scenes[C19: literally: grey eminence, originally applied to Père Joseph (François Le Clerc du Tremblay; died 1638), French monk, secretary of Cardinal Richelieu]

gray′ em′inence

n. a person who wields unofficial power, esp. through another person and often surreptitiously or privately. Also called éminence grise. [1940–45; translation of French éminence grise]

éminence grise

A French phrase meaning gray eminence, used to refer to someone who wields considerable power behind the scenes. It was originally applied to a French monk who was the private secretary of Cardinal Richelieu, virtual ruler of France under Louis XIII.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.eminence grise - (French) a person who exercises power or influence in certain areas without holding an official position; "the President's wife is an eminence grise in matters of education"French - the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by Franceimportant person, influential person, personage - a person whose actions and opinions strongly influence the course of events

éminence grise

Someone who is powerful in a particular area without having an official title. The phrase, French for "grey eminence," originally applied to one of Cardinal Richelieu's advisors, a monk who wore a grey robe. A: "Why should I worry about what Bob thinks? He doesn't even have a title!" B: "Yes, but he's the éminence grise of the firm, and the partners really value his opinion."See also: eminence