kabbalah
UK[kəˈbɑːlə]US[kəˈbɑːlə]
n
a jewish mystical tradition based on an esoteric interpretation of the hebrew scriptures.
n
any secret or esoteric doctrine or system of philosophy.
Etymology
the word 'kabbalah' enters english from medieval latin 'cabala', which itself was borrowed from rabbinical hebrew 'qabbālāh', meaning "received lore, tradition". the hebrew term derives from the root 'q-b-l', signifying "to receive, accept". this etymology directly reflects the core concept of kabbalah as a body of mystical knowledge received and transmitted through generations. in its journey into english, the spelling was adapted to reflect various phonetic interpretations, settling on forms like 'cabala', 'kabbala', and the common 'kabbalah'. the term's evolution from a hebrew word for "reception" to its modern meaning encapsulates the idea of secret, received wisdom, first within judaism and later extended metaphorically to any obscure or esoteric doctrine.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from hebrew, adopted as a single lexical unit into english. it does not contain separable morphemes within the english spelling system.
Examples
he dedicated his life to the study of the ancient wisdom of the kabbalah.
for some, the theory has become a kind of financial kabbalah, understood only by a few experts.
the symbolism in his poetry is often compared to the complex imagery found in the kabbalah.