Dictionary
1cardinal
noun car·di·nal \ˈkärd-nəl, ˈkär-də-\
: a priest of the Roman Catholic Church who ranks immediately below the Pope
: a common North American bird
Full Definition of CARDINAL
1
: a high ecclesiastical official of the Roman Catholic Church who ranks next below the pope and is appointed by him to assist him as a member of the college of cardinals
2
: cardinal number —usually used in plural
3
[from its color, resembling that of the cardinal's robes] : a crested finch (Cardinalis cardinalis of the family Cardinalidae) of the eastern United States and adjacent Canada, the southwestern United States, and Mexico to Belize which has a black face and heavy red bill in both sexes and is nearly completely red in the male
— car·di·nal·ship \-ˌship\ noun
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Origin of CARDINAL
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin cardinalis, from Late Latin cardinalis, adjective
First Known Use: 12th century
2cardinal
adjective
: basic or most important
Full Definition of CARDINAL
1
: of basic importance <a cardinal principle>
2
: very serious or grave <a cardinal sin>
— car·di·nal·ly adverb
See cardinal defined for English-language learners
Origin of CARDINAL
Middle English, from Late Latin cardinalis, from Latin, serving as a hinge, from cardin-, cardo hinge
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to CARDINAL
- Synonyms
- arch, big, capital, foremost, central, chief, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme
Synonym Discussion of CARDINAL
essential, fundamental, vital, cardinal mean so important as to be indispensable. essential implies belonging to the very nature of a thing and therefore being incapable of removal without destroying the thing itself or its character <conflict is essential in drama>. fundamental applies to something that is a foundation without which an entire system or complex whole would collapse <fundamental principles of algebra>. vital suggests something that is necessary to a thing's continued existence or operation <cut off from vital supplies>. cardinal suggests something on which an outcome turns or depends <a cardinal rule in buying a home>.
CARDINALS Defined for Kids
1cardinal
noun car·di·nal \ˈkärd-nəl, ˈkär-də-\
Definition of CARDINAL for Kids
1
: a high official of the Roman Catholic Church ranking next below the pope
2
: a bright red songbird with a crest and a whistling call
2cardinal
adjective
Definition of CARDINAL for Kids
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