name
Meaning 1
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
cabal
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/kəˈbɑːl/
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/kəˈbæl/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ɑːl
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rhymes with -æl
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CMU ARPABET: K AH0 B AA1 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
A putative, secret organization of individuals gathered for a political purpose.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: derogatory
Examples
- The cabal is plotting to ruin the world.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: camarilla
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A secret plot.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
- The cabal to destroy the building was foiled by federal agents.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: conspiracy
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
An identifiable group within the tradition of Discordianism.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To engage in the activities of a cabal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act (especially a political plot)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: conspiracy
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: plot, secret plan, game
Narrower terms: Gunpowder Plot
noun
Meaning 7
a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: faction, junto, camarilla
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: clique, coterie, ingroup, inner circle, pack, camp
verb
Meaning 8
engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- They conspired to overthrow the government
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: conspire, complot, conjure, machinate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: plot
Narrower terms: coconspire
History
Etymology
From 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.
Across languages
Translations
27 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: конспирация (konspiracija) — secret organization
- Bulgarian: съзакля́тничество (sǎzakljátničestvo) — secret organization
- Bulgarian: задкули́сие (zadkulísie) — secret organization
- Chinese Mandarin: 陰謀集團 /阴谋集团 (yīnmóu jítuán) — secret organization
- Esperanto: komploto — secret organization
- Esperanto: intrigo — secret organization
- Finnish: salaliitto — secret organization
- French: cabale — secret organization
- German: Geheimbund — secret organization
- Greek: κλίκα (klíka) — secret organization
- Italian: setta — secret organization
- Japanese: 秘密結社 (himitsu kessha) — secret organization
- Latin: coniūrātiō — secret organization
- Macedonian: клика (klika) — secret organization
- Russian: кли́ка (klíka) — secret organization
- Spanish: camarilla — secret organization
- Spanish: sociedad secreta — secret organization
- Spanish: séquito — secret organization
- Swedish: kabal — secret organization
- Bulgarian: конспирация (konspiracija) — secret plot, conspiracy
- Catalan: càbala — secret plot, conspiracy
- Chinese Mandarin: 陰謀 /阴谋 (yīnmóu) — secret plot, conspiracy
- Finnish: salaliitto — secret plot, conspiracy
- Latin: coniūrātiō — secret plot, conspiracy
- Portuguese: cabala — secret plot, conspiracy
- Spanish: conspiración — secret plot, conspiracy
- Spanish: cábala — secret plot, conspiracy