cabal — a secret group of people united in some close design, usually to promote their private views or interests in an underhand way
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a secret group of people united in some close design, usually to promote their private views or interests in an underhand way
Pronunciation (IPA): /kəˈbɑːl/
Example Sentences
- The office cabal decided to surprise their boss with a birthday cake made entirely of vegetables.
- She suspected there was a cabal working against her promotion.
- The neighborhood cabal met every Tuesday to plan which houses needed better lawn maintenance.
cabal
NOUN[/kəˈbɑːl/]
a secret group of people united in some close design, usually to promote their private views or interests in an underhand way
A secret cabal met at midnight to plan its next move.
The cabal secretly influenced the kingdom from the shadows. (Think of: Come, all. → A hidden leader quietly says, "Come, all.")
The detective unraveled the cabal and revealed its secret plot.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From French 'cabale', which comes from Hebrew 'qabbalah' meaning 'reception' or 'tradition'. The word originally referred to Jewish mystical teachings but evolved to mean a secret group or faction.
Breakdown
From Hebrew qabbalah (received tradition) → French cabale → English cabal. The word entered English in the 17th century and came to mean any secret group engaged in intrigue.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The office cabal decided to surprise their boss with a birthday cake made entirely of vegetables.”
“She suspected there was a cabal working against her promotion.”
“The neighborhood cabal met every Tuesday to plan which houses needed better lawn maintenance.”
“The cabal of chess players dominated the school tournament.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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