A cabal is a small, secretive group of people who work together, often for political purposes or to gain power in a hidden way. It usually suggests plotting or conspiracy.
From French 'cabale,' from Medieval Latin 'cabbala,' originally referring to Jewish mystical tradition (Kabbalah). The word shifted from describing secret religious knowledge to any kind of secret political intrigue. In English history, it became linked with groups of ministers and power-brokers operating behind the scenes.
The word is famously linked to a group of English ministers in the 1600s whose initials supposedly spelled C-A-B-A-L—almost too perfect to be true, but the story stuck. It’s a good example of how a word for 'hidden spiritual knowledge' slid over into 'hidden political scheming.' Today people use it in everything from serious political analysis to wild conspiracy theories.
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