cabala

or cab·ba·la, kab·a·la, kab·ba·la, kab·ba·lah

[ kab-uh-luh, kuh-bah- ]
/ ˈkæb ə lə, kəˈbɑ- /

noun

a system of esoteric theosophy and theurgy developed by rabbis, reaching its peak about the 12th and 13th centuries, and influencing certain medieval and Renaissance Christian thinkers. It was based on a mystical method of interpreting Scripture by which initiates claimed to penetrate sacred mysteries. Among its central doctrines are, all creation is an emanation from the Deity and the soul exists from eternity.
any occult or secret doctrine or science.

Origin of cabala

1515–25; < Medieval Latin cab(b)ala < Hebrew qabbālāh ‘tradition’, literally, something received, i.e., handed down

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cabala

cabal cabala

Words nearby cabala

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

Example sentences from the Web for kabbalah

British Dictionary definitions for kabbalah (1 of 2)

kabbalah

kabbala, kabala, cabbala, cabala or qabalah

/ (kəˈbɑːlə) /

noun

an ancient Jewish mystical tradition based on an esoteric interpretation of the Old Testament
any secret or occult doctrine or science

Derived forms of kabbalah

kabbalism, kabalism, cabbalism, cabalism or qabalism (ˈkæbəˌlɪzəm), noun kabbalist, kabalist, cabbalist, cabalist or qabalist, noun kabbalistic, kabalistic, cabbalistic, cabalistic or qabalistic, adjective

Word Origin for kabbalah

C16: from Medieval Latin, from Hebrew qabbālāh tradition, what is received, from qābal to receive

British Dictionary definitions for kabbalah (2 of 2)

cabala
/ (kəˈbɑːlə) /

noun

a variant spelling of kabbalah

Derived forms of cabala

cabalism (ˈkæbəˌlɪzəm), noun cabalist, noun cabalistic, adjective