cabala Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an esoteric or occult matter resembling the Kabbalah that is traditionally secret
    kabbalah; kabbala; kabala; cabbala; qabala; cabbalah; qabalah.
  2. noun an esoteric theosophy of rabbinical origin based on the Hebrew scriptures and developed between the 7th and 18th centuries
    Kabbalah; Qabbalah; Kabbala; Kabala; Cabbala; Qabbala; Cabbalah.

WordNet


Cab"a*la noun
Etymology
LL. See Cabal, n.
Definitions
  1. A kind of occult theosophy or traditional interpretation of the Scriptures among Jewish rabbis and certain mediæval Christians, which treats of the nature of god and the mystery of human existence. It assumed that every letter, word, number, and accent of Scripture contains a hidden sense; and it teaches the methods of interpretation for ascertaining these occult meanings. The cabalists pretend even to foretell events by this means.
  2. Secret science in general; mystic art; mystery.

Webster 1913