Ca*bal" (k&adot;*băl"), n.
[F. cabale cabal, cabala, LL. cabala cabala, fr.
Heb. qabbālēh reception, tradition, mysterious
doctrine, fr. qābal to take or receive, in Piël
qibbel to adopt (a doctrine).] 1.
Tradition; occult doctrine. See Cabala [Obs.]
Hakewill.
2. A secret. [Obs.] "The measuring
of the temple, a cabal found out but lately." B.
Jonson.
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.
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.
4. The secret artifices or machinations
of a few persons united in a close design; intrigue.
By cursed cabals of women.
Dryden.
Syn. -- Junto; intrigue; plot; combination; conspiracy.
-- 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.
Ca*bal", v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Caballed (-băld"); 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.
Caballing still against it with the
great.
Dryden.
