éminence grise

== English == === Alternative forms === eminence grise === Etymology === 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). === Pronunciation === (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 === Noun === éminence grise (plural éminences grises or éminence grises) (idiomatic) A secret or unofficial decision-maker. Synonyms: power behind the throne, gray eminence ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== puppet master svengali === References === === Further reading === éminence grise on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “éminence grise, eminence grise, gray eminence, grey eminence”, in Google Books Ngram Viewer. == French == === Etymology === 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 === IPA(key): /e.mi.nɑ̃s ɡʁiz/ Hyphenation: émi‧nence grise === Noun === éminence grise f (plural éminences grises) (idiomatic) éminence grise ==== Descendants ==== → English: éminence grise → German: graue Eminenz (calque) → Italian: eminenza grigia (calque) → Swedish: grå eminens (calque)