Etymologically
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cabbala

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Forms

cabbala f (genitive cabbalae); first declension[1][2] Also spelled cabala and kabala.[1][2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Biblical Hebrew קַבָּלָה (qabbālā, “reception, received tradition”).[4][1][3][5] Etymonline takes the Hebrew noun from a verb meaning “to receive, accept”,[4] and the alchemical lexicon of Rulandus already says the word is Hebrew and means ⟨receptio⟩ in Latin.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ramminger's Neo-Latin citations begin with Pico della Mirandola, who speaks of the working of a pure and immediate cabbala that no magic can reach.[2]

Semantic evolution

The word named the secret doctrine that Jewish scholars handed down by word of mouth, above all the hidden knowledge sought in the books of Moses and the Prophets by counting, comparing and rearranging letters, syllables and the names of God.[6][1] Du Cange's glossary divides it into a speculative and a practical part and calls it subtle but empty and superstitious.[6] Renaissance authors such as Giordano Bruno and Cornelius Agrippa wrote of it among the occult sciences, and Julius Caesar Scaliger named it in one breath with magic and alchemy.[2] A Polish source of 1530 asks after newly printed books on magic or cabbala, and the Polish dictionary defines the word there as the Jewish art of divination.[7]

English took cabbala from Medieval Latin in the 1520s, and cabal came from French cabal, also from this word.[4]

Timeline

  • 1520s – English borrows it as cabbala.[4]
  • 1530 – A Polish source asks after new books on magic or cabbala.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (Medieval Latin, New Latin) The kabbalah, the Jewish tradition of mystical interpretation of Scripture.[6][1][2]
  2. (New Latin) Any esoteric or occult lore; divination.[7][2]
  • English cabbala
  • English cabal

Usage notes

Du Cange calls those versed in it cabbalistae.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Ramminger, Johann, Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700, www.neulatein.de
  3. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  6. ^ a b c d du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
  7. ^ a b c Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl