camarilla

American  

[kam-uh-ril-uh, kah-mah-ree-lyah, -ree-yah] / ˌkæm əˈrɪl ə, ˌkɑ mɑˈri lyɑ, -ˈri yɑ /

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.

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camarilla British  

/ kamaˈriʎa, ˌkæməˈrɪlə /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of camarilla

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

Example Sentences

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

From Time

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

Already the head and front of Russian despotism are the camarilla and the bureaucracy, who practically administer the affairs of the government.

From Project Gutenberg

Their creatures have worked their way even into the cabinet and the camarilla.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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