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Svengali

[ sven-gah-lee, sfen- ]

noun

  1. a person who completely dominates another, usually with selfish or sinister motives.


Svengali

/ svɛnˈɡɑːlɪ /

noun

  1. a person who controls another's mind, usually with sinister intentions
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of Svengali1

First recorded in 1940–45; after the evil hypnotist of the same name in the novel Trilby (1894) by George Du Maurier
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Word History and Origins

Origin of Svengali1

after a character in George Du Maurier's novel Trilby (1894)
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Example Sentences

But one look at the film is enough to dispel all notions of Svengali.

Well, he was no Svengali, no alchemist and, obviously, they would have happened without him.

Like One Direction, The Shirelles were groomed by an industry Svengali.

Just after Presley's death on August 16, 1977, his Svengali-like manager, Col. Tom Parker, was asked for a comment.

Clarke was terrible when he said it—he is a regular Svengali, I believe, and the mother is completely dominated by him.

Frohman was curiously fascinated by "Bengali," as he insisted upon calling Svengali.

That the story of Svengali and of Trilby's voice is a good story only a duffer would deny.

"It is called the 'Rosemonde' of Schubert, matemoiselle," replied Svengali.

Nobody knew exactly how Svengali lived, and very few knew where (or why).

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