ETYM French cabale cabal, cabala, Late Lat. cabala cabala, from Hebrew qabbâlęh reception, tradition, mysterious doctrine, from qâbal to take or receive, in Piël qibbel to adopt (a doctrine).
A clique that seeks power usually through intrigue; SYN. faction, junta, junto, camarilla.
Political coterie or intrigue.

To unite in or form a cabal.

The, Group of politicians, the English king Charles II's counselors 1667–73, whose initials made up the word by coincidence— Clifford (Thomas Clifford 1630–1673), Ashley (Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury), Buckingham (George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham), Arlington (Henry Bennett, 1st Earl of Arlington 1618–1685), and Lauderdale (John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale).