cabal

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

From French cabale, from Medieval Latin cabala, which in turn is derived from the Hebrew Kabbalah, קבלה "something received" (i.e., from tradition, from antiquity). It is likely that the mystical often secretive nature of Kabbalah led to formation of the word cabal.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kəˈbæl/, X-SAMPA: /k@"b{l/

Noun

cabal (plural cabals)

1. A usually secret exclusive organization of individuals gathered for a political purpose.

   The cabal is plotting to take over the world.

2. A secret plot.

   The cabal to destroy the building was foiled by federal agents.

3. An identifiable group within the tradition of Discordianism.
   • 1965 Greg Hill and Kerry Thornley, Principia Discordia

     Some episkoposes have a one-man cabal. Some work together. Some never do explain.

Synonyms

• camarilla
• conspiracy

Derived terms

• cabalistic
• cabbalistic
• TINC (there is no cabal)

Translations

secret organization

• Finnish: salaliitto (fi)
• Japanese: 秘密結社 (himitsu kessha)

• Spanish: cábala (es)

Verb

cabal (third-person singular simple present cabals, present participle caballing, simple past and past participle caballed)

1. To engage in the activities of a cabal
   • 1840, George Payne Rainsford James, The king's highway, volume 1, page 68-69:

     […] I believed her to have been carried off by some persons belonging to a party of Jacobites who were known to be caballing against the government, though to what extent was not then ascertained.

See also

• cabal glass

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Portuguese

Adjective

cabal m and f (plural cabais; comparable)

1. complete
2. rigorous
3. exact
4. satisfactory

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Spanish

Etymology

cabo +‎ -al

Adjective

cabal m and f (plural cabales)

1. upright

Derived terms

• en sus cabales