éminence grise
A secret or unofficial decision-maker.
But Harry Hopkins was no mere manipulator of people and ideas, no eminence grise masterminding the actions of figureheads.
grise
UK /ɡɹiːz/ US /ɡɹiːz/
noun 2name 1
Definitions
noun
1
A step (in a flight of stairs); a degree.
Every grise of fortune / Is smoothed by that below.
noun
1
Alternative form of grice (a pig)
Grice or Grise, a Swine (6ᵗʰ S. vi. 537) — This word is derived from O.N. griss, porcellus.
‘Grise,’ observe Nicolson and Burn, ‘is a common name for swine, and it may well seem to have taken its name from being frequented by wild boars, which are beasts of the forest. […] Swinedale,’ they add (probably in error), ‘may be so called from Wild Boars having frequented there ; as there are Grisedale, Boredale, Stybarrow, in the neighbouring parish of Barton ; and Wildboarfell
name
1
A surname.
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