cabal









cabal


noun

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

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

  1. to form a cabal; intrigue; conspire; plot.

noun

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

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

  1. to form a cabal; conspire; plot

noun

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

1520s, “mystical interpretation of the Old Testament,” later “society, small group meeting privately” (1660s), from French cabal, in both senses, from Medieval Latin cabbala (see cabbala). Popularized in English 1673 as an acronym for five intriguing ministers of Charles II (Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale), which gave the word its sinister connotations.

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