cabal

[ kuh-bal ]
/ kəˈbæl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR cabal ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a small group of secret plotters, as against a government or person in authority.
the plots and schemes of such a group; intrigue.
a clique, as in artistic, literary, or theatrical circles.

verb (used without object), ca·balled, ca·bal·ling.

to form a cabal; intrigue; conspire; plot.

Origin of cabal

1610–20, for an earlier sense; earlier cabbal < Medieval Latin cabbala. See cabala

synonym study for cabal

2. See conspiracy.

OTHER WORDS FROM cabal

ca·bal·ler, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cabal

cabal cabala

Words nearby cabal

caa, caaba, cab, cab rank rule, cab-over, cabal, cabala, cabaletta, cabalism, cabalist, cabalistic

Words related to cabal

scheme, conspiracy, intrigue

Example sentences from the Web for cabal

British Dictionary definitions for cabal (1 of 2)

cabal
/ (kəˈbæl) /

noun

a small group of intriguers, esp one formed for political purposes
a secret plot, esp a political one; conspiracy; intrigue
a secret or exclusive set of people; clique

verb -bals, -balling or -balled (intr)

to form a cabal; conspire; plot

Word Origin for cabal

C17: from French cabale, from Medieval Latin cabala; see cabbala

British Dictionary definitions for cabal (2 of 2)

Cabal
/ (kəˈbæl) /

noun

the Cabal English history a group of ministers of Charles II that governed from 1667–73: consisting of Clifford, Ashley, Buckingham, Arlington, and Lauderdale

Word Origin for Cabal

see kabbalah; by a coincidence, the initials of Charles II's ministers can be arranged to form this word