camarilla

[kam-uh-ril-uh, kah-mah-ree-lyah, -ree-yah]

noun

plural

camarillas 

1. a group of unofficial or private advisers to a person of authority, especially a group much given to intrigues and secret plots; cabal; clique.

camarilla

/ kamaˈriʎa, ˌkæməˈrɪlə /

noun

1. a group of confidential advisers, esp formerly, to the Spanish kings; cabal

Word History and Origins

Origin of camarilla¹

1830–40; < Spanish, equivalent to camar ( a ) room (< Latin camera; chamber ) + -illa diminutive suffix < Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of camarilla¹

C19: from Spanish: literally: a little room

Example Sentences

They were political Play-Doh, to be massaged and molded as Bush’s camarilla saw fit.

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The Democrats then warned of a catastrophe, but the Kremlin camarilla came around.

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Monte-Leone, whom the abuses of the French government and the camarilla of the Tuilleries made most indignant, gave vent to his opinions and complained bitterly of the acts of the ministry.

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The figurative signification of the word camarilla, which, in its literal sense, means a little chamber, is almost too well known, even out of Spain, for an explanation of it to be necessary.

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On July 29, 1914, the well-informed German newspaper, Vorwaerts, declared: "The camarilla of war-lords is working with absolutely unscrupulous means to carry out their fearful designs to precipitate a world war."

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Related Words

• camp 
• class 
• clique 
• club 
• company 
• crowd 
• fraternity 
• party 
• ring 
• school 
• society