■ noun
1》 a leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church, nominated by and having the power to elect the Pope.
2》 a deep scarlet colour like that of a ~'s cassock.
3》 an American songbird of which the male is partly or mostly red and which typically has a crest. [ Cardinalis ~is and other species, subfamily Cardinalinae.]
■ adjective of the greatest importance; fundamental: two ~ points must be borne in mind.
Derivatives
~ate noun
~ly adverb
~ship noun
Origin
OE, from L. ~is , from cardo , cardin- 'hinge'; sense 1 has arisen from the function of such priests as ‘pivots’ of church life.