Cabal

Cabal
Cabal Ca*bal" (k[.a]*b[a^]l"), n. [F. cabale cabal, cabala, LL. cabala cabala, fr. Heb. qabb[=a]l[=e]h reception, tradition, mysterious doctrine, fr. q[=a]bal to take or receive, in Pi["e]l qibbel to adopt (a doctrine).] 1. Tradition; occult doctrine. See {Cabala}. [Obs.] --Hakewill. [1913 Webster]

2. A secret. [Obs.] ``The measuring of the temple, a cabal found out but lately.'' --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]

3. A number of persons united in some close design, usually to promote their private views and interests in church or state by intrigue; a secret association composed of a few designing persons; a junto. [1913 Webster]

Note: It so happend, by a whimsical coincidence, that in 1671 the cabinet consisted of five persons, the initial letters of whose names made up the word cabal; Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

4. The secret artifices or machinations of a few persons united in a close design; intrigue. [1913 Webster]

By cursed cabals of women. --Dryden.

Syn: Junto; intrigue; plot; combination; conspiracy.

Usage: {Cabal}, {Combination}, {Faction}. An association for some purpose considered to be bad is the idea common to these terms. A combination is an organized union of individuals for mutual support, in urging their demands or resisting the claims of others, and may be good or bad according to circumstances; as, a combiniation of workmen or of employers to effect or to prevent a change in prices. A cabal is a secret association of a few individuals who seek by cunning practices to obtain office and power. A faction is a larger body than a cabal, employed for selfish purposes in agitating the community and working up an excitement with a view to change the existing order of things. ``Selfishness, insubordination, and laxity of morals give rise to combinations, which belong particularly to the lower orders of society. Restless, jealous, ambitious, and little minds are ever forming cabals. Factions belong especially to free governments, and are raised by busy and turbulent spirits for selfish purposes''. --Crabb. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cabal — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para otros usos de este término, véase Cabal (desambiguación). Cabal es una novela de terror escrita por Clive Barker en 1988. Originalmente fue publicada dentro de un libro que contenía otros relatos cortos,… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Cabal — Entwickler TAD Corporation Publisher …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Cabal — Fréquent dans l Aveyron et le Tarn, le nom est sans doute à rattacher à l occitan caval (= cheval), surnom donné au possesseur d un cheval, ou à celui qui est fort comme un cheval. L hypothèse donnée par Dauzat (riche, puissant, occitan cabal )… …   Noms de famille

  • cabal — adjetivo 1. Que se comporta con integridad y rectitud, según la justicia, la moral o la razón: Tu padre es un hombre cabal, de los pocos que quedan. No podemos fiarnos de las propuestas de esta empresa porque no parece que sea muy cabal. 2. Que… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • cabal — (De cabo, extremo). 1. adj. Ajustado a peso o medida. 2. Dicho de una cosa: Que cabe a cada uno. 3. Excelente en su clase. 4. Completo, exacto, perfecto. 5. m. Hues. Pegujal del segundogénito. 6. ant. caudal (ǁ hacienda). 7 …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • cabal — (n.) 1520s, mystical interpretation of the Old Testament, later society, small group meeting privately (1660s), from Fr. cabal, in both senses, from M.L. cabbala (see CABBALA (Cf. cabbala)). Popularized in English 1673 as an acronym for five… …   Etymology dictionary

  • cabal — [kə bäl′, kəbal′] n. [Fr, intrigue, society (popularized in England from the initials of the ministers of Charles II) < ML cabbala, CABALA] 1. a small group of persons joined in a secret, often political, intrigue; junta 2. the intrigues of… …   English World dictionary

  • Cabal — Ca*bal , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Caballed} ( b[a^]ld ); p. pr. & vb. n. {Caballing}]. [Cf. F. cabaler.] To unite in a small party to promote private views and interests by intrigue; to intrigue; to plot. [1913 Webster] Caballing still against it… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cabal — Cabal, bei den Engländern Name eines Ministeriums unter Karl II. von England 1669–79, das auf die Wiederherstellung der unumschränkten Monarchie hinarbeitete u. im Solde König Ludwigs XIV. von Frankreich stand, aus den Anfangsbuchstaben der… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • cabal — I noun band, camarilla, clique, coalition, collusion, combination, complicity, complot, confederacy, connivance, conspiracy, council, design, factio, faction, gang, intrigue, junta, league, machination, plot, ring, scheme, secret group, secret… …   Law dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”