/kəˈbɑːl/, /kəˈbæl/
OriginFrom French cabale, from Medieval Latin cabbala, which in turn is derived from Hebrew קַבָּלָה (kabalá, “Jewish mysticism”, literally “reception, something received”) (such as knowledge). Doublet of Kabbalah, as well as, more distantly, ghibli.
- A secret plot.
“The cabal to destroy the building was foiled by federal agents.”
- An identifiable group within the tradition of Discordianism.
“Some episkoposes have a one-man cabal. Some work together. Some never do explain.”
- intransitiveTo engage in the activities of a cabal.
“[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 f”
“[…] 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.”
“But the Subalterns' and Captains' ladies (the Major is unmarried) cabal against her a good deal. They say that Glorvina gives herself airs and that Peggy herself is intolerably domineering.”
Formscabals(plural) · cabals(present, singular, third-person) · cabaling(US, participle, present) · caballing(UK, participle, present) · cabaled(US, participle, past) · cabaled(US, past) · caballed(UK, participle, past) · caballed(UK, past) · Cabals(plural)