camarilla

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

noun

, plural cam·a·ril·las [kam-, uh, -, ril, -, uh, z, kah-mah-, ree, -lyahs, -, ree, -yahs].

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.

From New York Times

The well-groomed Camarilla sect have their manicured hands all over the world of finance, while the hideous Nosferatu clan wield power through their informants in the press.

From The Guardian

Christian Alfaro was working at the local pizza chain in Camarilla, Calif., when he walked behind a co-worker just as they were pulling a pizza out of the 500-degree oven.

From Fox News

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

From Time

It is clear that Pitt's sole object was to destroy Carteret as minister, not for the ignominious purpose of subverting him in a court camarilla, but to show his own power by demolishing the conspicuous man, the vizier of the King who proscribed himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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