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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

cardinal en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • [ˈkʰɑːd(ɪ)nəl] ~ [ˈkʰɑːd(ɪ)nl̩] (Australia)
  • audio
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈkɑɹd(ɪ)nəl/ (Canada, General-American)
  • [ˈkʰɑːd(ɪ)nəl] ~ [ˈkʰɑːd(ɪ)nl̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈkʰɑɹd(ɪ)nəl] ~ [ˈkʰɑɹd(ɪ)nl̩] (Canada, General-American)
  • /ˈkɑːd(ɪ)nəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈkɑːd(ɪ)nəl/ (Australia)

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin cardō Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin cardinālisder. Middle French cardinalbor. English cardinal From Middle French cardinal, from Latin cardinālis (“pertaining to a hinge, hence applied to that on which something turns or depends, important, principal, chief”), from cardin-, cardō (“hinge”) + -ālis, adjectival suffix.

Meanings

  1. Of fundamental importance; crucial, pivotal.
    • the cardinal intersections of the zodiack 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:
    • But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye. 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
    • a cardinal rule
    • Impudence is now a cardinal virtue. a. 1631, Michael Drayton, To my noble friend Mr. William Brown, of the evil time:
  2. Of or relating to the cardinal directions (north, south, east and west).
    • a cardinal mark
  3. Describing a “natural” number used to indicate quantity (e.g., zero, one, two, three), as opposed to an ordinal number indicating relative position.
  4. Having a bright red color (from the color of a Catholic cardinal’s cassock).
  5. Being one of the signs Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn, associated with initiation, creation, and force.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
more cardinal Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most cardinal Degree=Sup lexicographic

Coordinates

fixed · mutable

Translations (91)

es cardinal (describing a number that indicates quantity) · fa اصلی (of fundamental importance) · fi perus- (describing a number that indicates quantity) · af kardinale (of or relating to the cardinal directions) · fi johtava (Aries/Cancer/Libra/Capricorn) · hy քանակական (describing a number that indicates quantity) · ro roșu purpuriu (having a bright red color) · vi cốt yếu (of fundamental importance) · ru кардина́льный (of fundamental importance) · fr cardinal (of fundamental importance) · ru гла́вный (of fundamental importance) · gl cardinal (of or relating to the cardinal directions) · tr mühim (of fundamental importance) · is hárauður (having a bright red color) · de grundsätzlich (describing a number that indicates quantity) · pt cardeal (describing a number that indicates quantity) · tl paulat (describing a number that indicates quantity) · fa کاردینال (of fundamental importance) · fi pää- (of fundamental importance) · da grund- (of fundamental importance) · bg яркочервен (having a bright red color) · fi kardinaali- (of or relating to the cardinal directions) · ro fundamental (of fundamental importance) · af kardinale (of fundamental importance) · fa اعداد اصلی (of fundamental importance) · bg числителен (describing a number that indicates quantity) · is aðal- (of fundamental importance) · tr önemli (of fundamental importance) · is megin- (of fundamental importance) · vi chủ yếu (of fundamental importance) · ia cardinal (describing a number that indicates quantity) · ga cairdinéalta (of fundamental importance) · fi emä- (of fundamental importance) · it cardinale (describing a number that indicates quantity) · fi perus- (of fundamental importance) · pt cardeal (of fundamental importance) · el απόλυτος (describing a number that indicates quantity) · it cardinale (having a bright red color) · fr rouge cardinal (having a bright red color) · fi peri- (of fundamental importance) · fr cardinal (of or relating to the cardinal directions) · pt cardinal (describing a number that indicates quantity) · fa عدداصلی (of fundamental importance) · bg основен (of fundamental importance) · fi kardinaali- (of fundamental importance) · sv kardinal- (of fundamental importance) · tr yönel (of or relating to the cardinal directions) · sv främsta (of fundamental importance) · pt fundamental (of fundamental importance) · ro roșu cardinal (having a bright red color) · vi chính (of fundamental importance) · gl cardinal (of fundamental importance) · ru коли́чественный (describing a number that indicates quantity) · ro cardinal (of or relating to the cardinal directions) · fr cardinal (describing a number that indicates quantity) · ky түп-тамырынан (of fundamental importance) · ca cardinal (of fundamental importance) · ja 基数 (describing a number that indicates quantity) · tr yönsel (of or relating to the cardinal directions) · de kardinalrot (having a bright red color) · ro cardinal (describing a number that indicates quantity) · pl purpurowy (having a bright red color) · sv huvud- (of fundamental importance) · is höfuð- (of fundamental importance) · pt vermelho-cardeal (having a bright red color) · ia cardinal (of fundamental importance) · it cardinale (of fundamental importance) · sv väsentlig (of fundamental importance) · pt cardeal (of or relating to the cardinal directions) · fa اساسی (of fundamental importance) · af kardinale (describing a number that indicates quantity) · ru основно́й (of fundamental importance) · vi lượng (describing a number that indicates quantity) · sv huvudsaklig (of fundamental importance) · sv avgörande (of fundamental importance) · ja 基本 (of fundamental importance) · es cardinal (of fundamental importance) · ro cardinal (of fundamental importance) · pl kardynalny (of fundamental importance) · pl kardynalny (describing a number that indicates quantity) · de grundsätzlich (of fundamental importance) · bg главен (of or relating to the cardinal directions) · ga cairdinéalach (having a bright red color) · fi kardinaalinpunainen (having a bright red color) · nrf cardinna (describing a number that indicates quantity) · fi kardinaali- (describing a number that indicates quantity) · br pennañ (of fundamental importance) · bg главен (of fundamental importance) · tr asıl sayı (describing a number that indicates quantity) · pt principal (of fundamental importance) · da hoved- (of fundamental importance)

cardinal en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • [ˈkʰɑːd(ɪ)nəl] ~ [ˈkʰɑːd(ɪ)nl̩] (Australia)
  • audio
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈkɑɹd(ɪ)nəl/ (Canada, General-American)
  • [ˈkʰɑːd(ɪ)nəl] ~ [ˈkʰɑːd(ɪ)nl̩] (Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈkʰɑɹd(ɪ)nəl] ~ [ˈkʰɑɹd(ɪ)nl̩] (Canada, General-American)
  • /ˈkɑːd(ɪ)nəl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈkɑːd(ɪ)nəl/ (Australia)

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin cardō Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālis Latin cardinālisder. Middle French cardinalbor. English cardinal From Middle French cardinal, from Latin cardinālis (“pertaining to a hinge, hence applied to that on which something turns or depends, important, principal, chief”), from cardin-, cardō (“hinge”) + -ālis, adjectival suffix.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) One of the officials appointed by the pope in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking only below the pope, equal to the patriarchs, constituting the special college which elects the pope.
    • His uncle, a Cardinal, engages a Spanish youth of Moorish descent called Diego, an expert singer and player on the virginal, to unlock the secrets of the heart,[…]and cure him by the spell of his music. 1932, Maurice Baring, chapter 16, in Friday's Business:
    • Francis riled conservative cardinals with his compassion for migrants and refugees, openness towards LGBTQ+ Catholics and demands for action on the climate crisis. Among the frontrunners before the conclave began were Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state; Luis Antonio Tagle, a reformer from the Philippines; Péter Erdő, a traditionalist from Hungary; Robert Sarah, a cardinal from Guinea who criticised Francis’s papacy; and the moderate US cardinal Robert Prevost. 2025 May 8, Angela Giuffrida and Harriet Sherwood, “White smoke from Sistine Chapel chimney signals election of new pope”, in The Guardian:
  2. (countable, uncountable) Any of various species of New-World passerine songbird in the genus Cardinalis, or in the family Cardinalidae more generally, or of similar appearance and once considered to be related to the former; so called because of their red plumage. (See Wikipedia article for taxonomical information.)
    • Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines. 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Afterglow”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 168:
  3. (countable, uncountable) A deep red color, somewhat less vivid than scarlet, the traditional colour of a Catholic cardinal's cassock. (same as cardinal red)
    • The cardinal red and silver grey colors were worn with great enthusiasm. In the spring-time, when the entire student body bought their new straw hats, the bands were of cardinal and grey ribbon. 1914, ἄν ἀνἁβιλε [án anhabile], “Under the Cardinal Red and Silver Grey”, in Corks and Curls, volume 27, University of Virginia, page 28:
    • Dark navy-blue, cardinal, golden-brown, old blue, olive, slate-gray, and telegraph-blue are the favorite solid colors seen in heavy beaver cloths […] 1889, Demorests' Monthly Magazine, volume 25, page 65:
  4. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of cardinal number, a number indicating quantity, or the size of a set (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3). (See Cardinal_number.)
    • This cardinal number is the smallest of the infinite cardinal numbers; it is the one to which Cantor has appropriated the Hebrew aleph with the suffix 0, to distinguish it from larger infinite cardinals. Thus the name of the smallest of infinite cardinals is ₀א. 1920, Bertrand Russell, Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy, page 83:
  5. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of cardinal numeral, a word used to represent a cardinal number.
    • The commonest numerals in Latin, as in English, are the "cardinals" […] and the "ordinals" […]. 2005, Frederic M. Wheelock, Wheelock's Latin, 6th ed. revised, p.97
  6. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), a flowering plant.
    • The sweet-briar rose with perfume good, / And the violet grows in the Milton wood, / The cardinal red—a queen is she, / But the sweetest flower is Mary Lee. 1844–1857, Marion D. Sullivan, “Mary Lee: A Romance of the Milton Wood” (sheet music), Boston: Oliver Ditson, page 2, verse 3:
  7. (abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi), a freshwater fish.
  8. (countable, historical, uncountable) A woman's short cloak with a hood, originally made of scarlet cloth.
    • Where's your cardinal! Make haste. c. 1760, Robert Lloyd, Chit-Chat, an imitation of Theocritus:
    • I have made no objection to their wearing the cardinal, though it be a habit of popish etymology, and was, I am afraid, first invented to hide the sluttishness of French dishabille. 1823, Lionel Thomas Berguer, World, page 115:
    • She has valuables of mine; besides, my cardinal and veil are in her room. 1775, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Duenna, I.3:
    • […]; and whilst she was looking over several pieces of each, she took an opportunity of concealing under her cardinal a piece of cotton, and several handkerchiefs, with which she went off undiscovered;[…]. 1763 August 9, The London Chronicle For the Year 1763, volume 14, page 130, column 2:
    • Closely drawing her cardinal round her, she descended into the park, at whose extremity was the little chapel where she intended to make her offering. She soon arrived there, and found the aged priest in attendance. 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXIII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 274:
  9. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Mulled red wine.
    • It was de Rosenberg's practice to separate young bloods from their inheritance, and to facilitate this he served them a vicious drink called 'cardinal', a mulled wine of which the ascertainable ingredients were a pineapple and several mixed vintages. 1974, Dennis Walton Dodds, Napoleon's Love Child: A Biography of Count Leon, page 59:
    • A Recipe to make Cardinal, which I attribute to the German governess, raises a problem. 1951, Herbert Warner Allen, A Contemplation of Wine, page 116:
    • He goes up, and finds the remains of the supper, Tankards full of egg-flip and cardinal, and a party playing at vingt-un. 1861, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
cardinals Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

cardinal adjective · pseudocardinal · cardinal beetle · cardinal vein · cardinal spline · red cardinal · cardinalitial · intercardinal · northern cardinal · subcardinal · cardinalfish · cardinal mark · weakly cardinal · large cardinal · cardinal catchfly · cardinal variable · anticardinal · postcardinal · desert cardinal · cardinal virtue · supracardinal · cardinal symptom · College of Cardinals · cardinal flower · cardinal concern · cardinality · intersubcardinal · cardinal sin · cardinal fish · incardinate · cardinalize · noncardinal · cardinal spider · cardinal virtues · cardinal gem · cardinally · cardinal point · cardinalate · cardinalic · cardinal-nephew · cardinalin · cardinal numeral · cardinal bishop · gray cardinal · cardinal rule · cardinalhood · red cardinal flower · uncardinal · cardinal vowel · cardinalship · cardinal bird · cardinal nephew · cardinal vowels · cardinal number · grey cardinal · limit cardinal

Hypernyms

cleric

Relateds

Card · Contrast with ordinal

Synonyms

cardinalid (any member of the family Cardinalidae)

Translations (131)

es cardenal (official of the Catholic Church) · pt vermelho-cardeal (colour) · ar كَرْدِينَال (number indicating quantity) · mi katinara (official of the Catholic Church) · bg числително (number indicating quantity) · nv tsídiiłchííʼ (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · da mængdetal (number indicating quantity) · fi kardinaaliluku (number indicating quantity) · fr cardinal (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · vi (màu) đỏ thắm (colour) · fy haadtelwurd (number indicating quantity) · kmr kardînal (official of the Catholic Church) · fi perusluku (number indicating quantity) · nl kardinaal (official of the Catholic Church) · ca cardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · oj misko-bineshiinh (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · ca cardenal (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · fi punakardinaali (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · mt kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · tr asıl sayı (number indicating quantity) · gd càirdeanal (official of the Catholic Church) · fr cardinal (number indicating quantity) · ga dearg cairdinéalta (colour) · lv kardināls (official of the Catholic Church) · es cardenal (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · sl kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · chr ᏙᏧᏩ (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · pl kardynał (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · ga cródhearg (colour) · is hárauður (colour) · nv tááʼyaʼniiltʼóshii (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · hu kardinális (official of the Catholic Church) · tl kardenal (official of the Catholic Church) · de Kardinalrot (colour) · ro număr cardinal (number indicating quantity) · cmn 樞機主教 /枢机主教 (official of the Catholic Church) · da kardinal (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · br kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · ar كَرْدِينَال (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · fi kardinaali (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · hy կարդինալ (official of the Catholic Church) · da kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · cic foshhommak (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · nrf cardinna (official of the Catholic Church) · af kardinaal (official of the Catholic Church) · hu bíboros (official of the Catholic Church) · tr kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · la cardinālis (official of the Catholic Church) · pt cardeal (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · sq kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · it cardinale (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · ar كَرْدِينَال (official of the Catholic Church) · ru кардина́л (official of the Catholic Church) · ar كارْدِينال (official of the Catholic Church) · sv kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · cy cardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · az kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · ru коли́чественное числи́тельное (number indicating quantity) · cho bishkomak (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · nl kardinaal (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · tr kardinal kuşu (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · bg кардинал (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · nb kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · it numero cardinale (number indicating quantity) · ko 추기경 (official of the Catholic Church) · osa wažįžue (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · sh kardìnāl (official of the Catholic Church) · sw kadinali (official of the Catholic Church) · eo kardinalo (official of the Catholic Church) · ga éan síoliteach (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · pt número cardinal (number indicating quantity) · de Kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · cy cardinal (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · af hooftelwoord (number indicating quantity) · vi số lượng (number indicating quantity) · el καρδινάλιος (official of the Catholic Church) · it rosso cardinale (colour) · ga cairdinéal (official of the Catholic Church) · nn kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · vi đức hồng y (official of the Catholic Church) · ja 緋色 (colour) · sh кардѝна̄л (official of the Catholic Church) · da kardinaltal (number indicating quantity) · is kardináli (official of the Catholic Church) · ro cardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · es número cardinal (number indicating quantity) · pl purpura (colour) · eo kardinalbirdo (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · de Grundzahl (number indicating quantity) · ru кардина́л (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · lv kardināls (number indicating quantity) · gl cardeal (official of the Catholic Church) · de Kardinalzahl (number indicating quantity) · de Kardinal (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · el απόλυτος αριθμός (number indicating quantity) · hy քանակական թվական (number indicating quantity) · bg яркочервен цвят (colour) · uk кардинал (official of the Catholic Church) · pl liczba kardynalna (number indicating quantity) · kmr (jimareyên) sade (number indicating quantity) · pt cardeal (official of the Catholic Church) · pt cardinal (number indicating quantity) · it cardinale (official of the Catholic Church) · fa کاردینال (official of the Catholic Church) · fr cardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · cmn 紅雀 /红雀 (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · fi kardinaalinpunainen (colour) · hu bíbornok (official of the Catholic Church) · mk кардинал (official of the Catholic Church) · he חַשְׁמָן (official of the Catholic Church) · eu kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · is frumtala (number indicating quantity) · et kardinal (official of the Catholic Church) · fi kardinaali (official of the Catholic Church) · pl kardynał (official of the Catholic Church) · cs kardinál (official of the Catholic Church) · bg кардинал (official of the Catholic Church) · nl hoofdtelwoord (number indicating quantity) · sl kardinalno število (number indicating quantity) · fr rouge cardinal (colour) · sk kardinál (official of the Catholic Church) · tr kardinal kırmızısı (colour) · lb Kardinol (official of the Catholic Church) · kmr metran (official of the Catholic Church) · vi hồng y (official of the Catholic Church) · ga tanagair (bird of the genus Cardinalis or family Cardinalidae) · nl kardinaalrood (colour) · lt kardinolas (official of the Catholic Church) · be кардынал (official of the Catholic Church) · ja 枢機卿 (official of the Catholic Church) · ja 基数 (number indicating quantity)

wikidata: Q45722 · wikidata: Q223402