cabbala

[kab-uh-luh, kuh-bah-]

noun

Related formscab·ba·lism, nouncab·ba·list, nouncab·ba·lis·tic, cab·ba·lis·ti·cal, adjectivecab·ba·lis·ti·cal·ly, adverb

cabala

or cab·ba·la, kab·a·la, kab·ba·la, kab·ba·lah

[kab-uh-luh, kuh-bah-]

noun

a system of esoteric theosophy and theurgy developed by rabbis, reaching its peak about the 12th and 13th centuries, and influencing certain medieval and Renaissance Christian thinkers. It was based on a mystical method of interpreting Scripture by which initiates claimed to penetrate sacred mysteries. Among its central doctrines are, all creation is an emanation from the Deity and the soul exists from eternity.

any occult or secret doctrine or science.

Origin of cabala

1515–25; < Medieval Latin cab(b)ala < Hebrew qabbālāh ‘tradition’, literally, something received, i.e., handed down

Can be confusedcabal cabala

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cabbala

Historical Examples of cabbala

While accepting the Cabbala it was impossible for Pico to reject magic.
Renaissance in Italy, Volume 2 (of 7)
John Addington Symonds
Cabbalist′ic, -al, relating to the cabbala: having a hidden meaning.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)
Various
Cabb′alism, the science of the cabbala; Cabb′alist, one versed in the cabbala.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)
Various
In like manner, it was only the initiated Jews of their cabbala, who knew the secret of the same mythos.
Religion In The Heavens
Logan Mitchell
His own models were the oriental reveries of the Cabbala, and the theosophy of the mystics.
Introduction to the Literature of Europe in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Centuries, Vol. 1
Henry Hallam

British Dictionary definitions for cabbala

cabbala

noun

a variant spelling of kabbalah

Derived Formscabbalism (ˈkæbəˌlɪzəm), nouncabbalist, nouncabbalistic, adjective

cabala

noun

a variant spelling of kabbalah

Derived Formscabalism (ˈkæbəˌlɪzəm), nouncabalist, nouncabalistic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cabbala

1520s, from Medieval Latin cabbala, from Mishnaic Hebrew qabbalah "reception, received lore, tradition," especially "tradition of mystical interpretation of the Old Testament," from qibbel "to receive, admit, accept." Cf. Arabic qabala "he received, accepted."

cabala

1670s, variant of cabbala. Related: Cabalist.