I. ˈkärd-nəl, ˈkär-də- noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin cardinalis, from Late Latin cardinalis, adjective
Date: 12th century
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 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
• car·di·nal·ship -ˌship noun
[
cardinal 3
]
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin cardinalis, from Latin, serving as a hinge, from cardin-, cardo hinge
Date: 14th century
1. : of basic importance : main , chief , primary
a cardinal principle
2. : very serious or grave
a cardinal sin
Synonyms: see essential
• car·di·nal·ly adverb