Cabal
[kə-BAL]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Latin, late 16th century
1.
A secret political clique or faction.
Examples of Cabal in a sentence
"My favorite book is about a powerful cabal during the French Revolution."
"They jokingly called their friend group a 'cabal,' but instead of planning political coups, they planned elaborate birthday parties and annual vacations."
About Cabal
Cabal comes from the French "cabale," which came from the Latin "cabala," referring to the form of Jewish mysticism now called Kabbalah. Over time, "cabal" gained new usage as a noun for a secret political faction.
Did you Know?
The word "cabal" can be traced back to "cabala," which is the medieval Latin word for a form of Jewish mysticism. However, the word took on a more political meaning over the years, and Charles Dickens came up with an alternative origin. He claimed "cabal" was an acronym for the names of political figures under King Charles II — Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale. A clever story, but ultimately false.
