[ca.ba.la] or cab.ba.la or cab.ba.lah n, often cap [ML cabbala] (1521) 1: a medieval and modern system of Jewish theosophy, mysticism, and thaumaturgy marked by belief in creation through emanation and a cipher method of interpreting Scripture
2. a: a traditional, esoteric, occult, or secret matter b: esoteric doctrine or mysterious art -- cab.a.lism n -- cab.a.lis.tic adj