éminence grise

noun

émi·​nence grise ā-mē-näⁿs-ˈgrēz 

plural éminences grises ā-mē-näⁿs-ˈgrēz 

1

: a confidential agent

especially : one exercising unsuspected or unofficial power

2

: a respected authority

specifically : elder statesman

the éminence grise of classical music

Did you know?

Éminence grise (literally, "gray eminence") was the sobriquet of Père Joseph (1577-1638), the Capuchin monk who served as secretary to Cardinal Richelieu, Chief Minister under Louis XIII. Richelieu's ambition for French domination of Europe aligned neatly with Joseph's hope to convert European Protestants to Roman Catholicism. Joseph's nickname came from the color of his cloak-and from the fact that Richelieu himself was known as the Éminence Rouge (Red Eminence). The term éminence grise came to mean a loyal confidant of any powerful individual, but recently the word has alternately come to mean a respected senior member within a field or profession (the gray in this case perhaps alluding to the color of an elder's hair).

Synonyms

• elder statesman
• veteran
• dean
• elder

Examples of éminence grise in a Sentence

the revered éminence grise of Civil War historians

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, literally, "gray eminence," nickname of Père Joseph (François du Tremblay) †1638 French monk and diplomat, confidant of Cardinal Richelieu who was known as Éminence Rouge "red eminence"; from the colors of their respective habits

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!