camarilla

[ kam-uh-ril-uh; Spanish kah-mah-ree-lyah, -ree-yah ]
See synonyms for camarilla on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural cam·a·ril·las [kam-uh-ril-uhz; Spanish kah-mah-ree-lyahs, -ree-yahs]. /ˌkæm əˈrɪl əz; Spanish ˌkɑ mɑˈri lyɑs, -ˈri yɑs/.
  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.

Origin of camarilla

1
1830–40; <Spanish, equivalent to camar(a) room (<Latin camera;see chamber) + -illa diminutive suffix <Latin

Words Nearby camarilla

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How to use camarilla in a sentence

  • He was too honest, and, therefore, dangerous to the Court camarilla set up and paid by Potsdam.

    The Minister of Evil | William Le Queux
  • Truly the camarilla were supporting each other, and I, an onlooker, stood amazed and astounded.

    The Minister of Evil | William Le Queux
  • "Exposure," replied the charlatan who was the head of the traitorous camarilla around the throne.

    The Minister of Evil | William Le Queux
  • Therefore, two days later, he delivered from the tribune of the Duma some terrible allegations against the camarilla.

    The Minister of Evil | William Le Queux
  • Each man, sulkily sheathing his sombrero, obeyed, and quitted the camarilla.

    Burlesques | William Makepeace Thackeray

British Dictionary definitions for camarilla

camarilla

/ (ˌkæməˈrɪlə, Spanish kamaˈriʎa) /


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

Origin of camarilla

1
C19: from Spanish: literally: a little room

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