Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- high station, rank, or repute: philosophers of eminence.
- a high place or part; a hill or elevation; height.
- (initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Church. a title of honor, applied to cardinals (usually preceded by His or Your).
- Anatomy. an elevation or projection, especially on a bone.
noun
- a position of superiority, distinction, high rank, or fame
- a high or raised piece of ground
- anatomy a projection of an organ or part
noun plural -nences or -nencies
- (preceded by Your or His) a title used to address or refer to a cardinal
c.1400, “projection, protuberance;” early 15c., “high or exalted position,” from Old French eminence or directly from Latin eminentia “prominence, eminence,” from eminentem (nominative eminens) “excellent, prominent” (see eminent).
As a title of honor (now only of cardinals) it is attested from 1650s. The original Éminence grise (French, literally “gray eminence”) was François Leclerc du Trembley (1577-1638), confidential agent of Richelieu.
n.
- The projecting prominent part of an organ, especially a bone.