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See also: Cabal

English

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Wikipedia

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.

Pronunciation

Noun

cabal (plural cabals)

  1. (derogatory) A putative, secret organization of individuals gathered for a political purpose.
    Synonym: camarilla
    The cabal is plotting to ruin the world.
    • 1754, David Hume, “”, in The History of Great Britain, under the House of Stuart, 2nd edition, volume I, London: A Millar, , published 1759, →OCLC, page 154:
      Undaunted and implacable, prudent and active; no opposition of the French princes or nobles could withstand his vengeance, no cabals could escape his penetration.
    • 1768, Mr. Yorick , A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, , →OCLC:
      But ’tis a civil thing, said I;—and as I generally act from the first impulse, and therefore seldom listen to these cabals, which serve no purpose, that I know of, but to encompass the heart with adamant—I turned instantly about to the lady.—
    • 1788, Publius , “Number X”, in The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, , volume I, New York, N.Y.: J. and A. M‘Lean, , →OCLC, page 59:
      In the first place, it is to be remarked that, however small the republic may be, the representatives must be raised to a certain number, in order to guard against the cabals of a few; and that, however large it may be, they must be limited to a certain number, in order to guard against the confusion of a multitude.
    • 1834, L E L, chapter XII, in Francesca Carrara.  In Three Volumes.">…], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, , (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 91:
      With his active and intriguing temper, Francis would doubtless have taken an eager part in the court cabals and conspiracies which make the history of Charles the Second;
  2. A secret plot.
    Synonym: conspiracy
    The cabal to destroy the building was foiled by federal agents.
  3. An identifiable group within the tradition of Discordianism.
    • 1965, Greg Hill, Kerry Thornley, Principia Discordia:
      Some episkoposes have a one-man cabal. Some work together. Some never do explain.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

cabal (third-person singular simple present cabals, present participle cabaling or caballing, simple past and past participle cabaled or caballed)

  1. (intransitive) To engage in the activities of a cabal.

See also

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “cabal”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Asturian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kaˈbal/
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: ca‧bal

Adjective

cabal (epicene, plural cabales)

  1. rational, reasonable, sane
    Synonym: acordáu
    Antonym: deschapetáu
    • 2007, Pablo Antón Marín Estrada, La ciudá encarnada:
      Esti periódicu nun s'achapla delantre nada nin naide. Sabénlo perbién los que lu compren toles mañanes. Y tolos xixoneses que son xente cabal y de bona fe.
      This newspaper will not humiliate itself in front of anything or anyone. Those who buy it everyday know it well. And all the gijonese that are rational and goodwilled people.
  2. upright, fair, just (a person)
    Synonyms: esautu, reutu, xustu

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Late Latin capālis, from Latin capitālis. Equivalent to cap +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

Adjective

cabal m or f (masculine and feminine plural cabals)

  1. complete, total
  2. upright, well-rounded

Noun

cabal m (plural cabals)

  1. goods, possessions
  2. flow, discharge (of a fluid)
  3. (telecommunications) throughput

Derived terms

Further reading

Galician

Etymology

From Late Latin capalis or from cabo +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

Adjective

cabal m or f (plural cabais)

  1. whole, complete
    Synonym: completo
    • 1823, Pedro Boado Sánchez, Diálogo entre dos Labradores gallegos afligidos:
      E may-lo Alcalde habíase d’alegrar, qu’el tamen está picado, qu’ainda n-hay ano é medio cabal que lle morreo á muller, é tamen pagou á farda como cada fillo de veciño.
      And the mayor would also be glad, because he's also piqued, because there's not a whole year and a half that his wife died and he also paid the burden as every mother's son
  2. exact
    Synonym: exacto

References

Portuguese

Pronunciation

 

  • Rhymes: (Portugal) -al, (Brazil) -aw
  • Hyphenation: ca‧bal

Adjective

cabal m or f (plural cabais)

  1. complete
  2. rigorous
  3. exact
  4. satisfactory

Derived terms

Spanish

Etymology

From cabo +‎ -al.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kaˈbal/
  • Rhymes: -al
  • Syllabification: ca‧bal

Adjective

cabal m or f (masculine and feminine plural cabales)

  1. upright, honest
  2. exact
  3. complete, entire, full

Adverb

cabal

  1. (colloquial, El Salvador, Honduras) exactly, exact, yes
    Synonyms: exactamente, , exacto
    Sí, cabal, así es cómo se hace.
    Yes, exactly, that's how it's done.

Derived terms

Further reading