A CABAL is a group of people united in some close design, usually to promote their private views and/or interests in an ideology, state, or other community, often by intrigue. It can also refer to a secret plot or a clique. The term originated in the 16th century, from the Hebrew word kabbalah, meaning 'RECEPTION' or 'TRADITION'. In modern usage, it is used to describe a group of people who work together in a secretive or underhanded way to achieve a common goal.