CARDINAL

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin ~is, from Late Latin ~is, adjective Date: 12th century 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 ~s, ~ number , a crested finch ( Cardinalis ~is of the family Cardinalidae) of the eastern United States and adjacent Canada, the southwestern U.S., and Mexico to Belize which has a black face and heavy red bill in both sexes and is nearly completely red in the male, ~ship noun II. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin ~is, from Latin, serving as a hinge, from cardin-, cardo hinge Date: 14th century of basic importance ; main , chief , primary , very serious or grave , see: essential ~ly adverb