cabal
See also: Cabal
English
Etymology
From French cabale, from Medieval Latin cabbala [1], which in turn is derived from Hebrew קַבָּלָה (kabalá, “Jewish mysticism”, literally “something received”).
Pronunciation
Noun
cabal (plural cabals)
- A usually secret exclusive organization of individuals gathered for a political purpose.
- The cabal is plotting to ruin the world.
- A secret plot.
- The cabal to destroy the building was foiled by federal agents.
- 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.
- 1965 Greg Hill and Kerry Thornley, Principia Discordia
Synonyms
Derived terms
- cabalistic
- cabbalistic
- TINC (there is no cabal)
Translations
secret organization
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Verb
cabal (third-person singular simple present cabals, present participle caballing, simple past and past participle caballed)
- To engage in the activities of a cabal.
- 1704, [Jonathan Swift], “Section I. The Introduction.”, in A Tale of a Tub. […], London: […] John Nutt, […], →OCLC, page 45:
- [W]e think it very unbecoming our Prudence, that the Determination ſhould be remitted to the Authors themſelves; when our Adversaries, by Briguing and Caballing, have cauſed so univerſal a Defection from us, that the greater Part of our Society has already deſerted to them, [...]
- 1840, George Payne Rainsford James, The King’s Highway, volume I, pages 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.
References
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “cabal”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
See also
Catalan
Pronunciation
Adjective
cabal m or f (masculine and feminine plural cabals)
Noun
cabal m (plural cabals)
Portuguese
Adjective
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Spanish
Etymology
Adjective
cabal m or f (masculine and feminine plural cabales)
Derived terms
Categories:
- English terms derived from French
- English terms derived from Medieval Latin
- English terms derived from Hebrew
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with usage examples
- English verbs
- English terms with quotations
- en:Collectives
- en:Discordianism
- en:People
- Catalan terms with IPA pronunciation
- Catalan lemmas
- Catalan adjectives
- Catalan epicene adjectives
- Catalan nouns
- Catalan countable nouns
- Catalan masculine nouns
- Spanish terms suffixed with -al
- Spanish lemmas
- Spanish adjectives
- Spanish epicene adjectives
- Spanish 2-syllable words