cabal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue
    junto; camarilla; faction.
  2. noun a plot to carry out some harmful or illegal act (especially a political plot)
    conspiracy.
  3. verb engage in plotting or enter into a conspiracy, swear together
    complot; machinate; conspire; conjure.
    • They conspired to overthrow the government

WordNet

Ca*bal" noun
Etymology
F. cabale cabal, cabala LL. cabala cabala, fr. Heb. qabbaleh reception, tradition, mysterious doctrine, fr. qabal to take or receive, in Piël qibbel to abopt (a doctrine).
Definitions
  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; in intrigue.
    By cursed cabals of women. Dryden.
    Crabb.
Ca*bal" intransitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. cabaler.
Wordforms
int & past participle Caballed ; present participle & verbal noun Caballing
Definitions
  1. 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.

Webster 1913