cardinal sinn.
/ˌkɑːdᵻnəl ˈsɪn/, /ˌkɑːdn̩əl ˈsɪn/, /ˌkɑːdn̩l̩ ˈsɪn/, U.S. /ˌkɑrdn̩əl ˈsɪn/, /ˌkɑrdənəl ˈsɪn/ 1. Esp. in traditional Christian moral theology originating from scholastic thought: a sin considered to be one of the primary or major transgressions; spec. one of the seven capital or deadly sins (cf. the ‘seven cardinal virtues’: see cardinal virtues at cardinal adj. 1). Cf. capital sin n. 1, deadly adj. 5a.In quot. 1623, punning on cardinal n. 1a.
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society > faith > aspects of faith > spirituality > sin > kinds of sin > [noun] > mortal
head sinOE
capital vicec1522
capital sin1550
scapea1592
cardinal sin1603
1603 R. Mavericke St. Peters Watch Word viii. f. 59 There are foure cardinall sinnes vpon the which also the rest doe hang, Pride, Couetousnesse, Whooredome, Drunkennesse.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. i. 102 Holy men I thought ye,..two reuerend Cardinall Vertues: But Cardinall Sins, and hollow hearts I feare ye.
1727 ‘Capt. Gulliver’ Mem. Court Lilliput viii. 133 The Cardinal Sins, such as Ambition, Lust, Avarice, Cruelty, Pride, Contempt of the Gods, and wilful Perjury.
1846 N. Amer. Rev. Jan. 34 He [sc. St. Chrysostom] enforced the cardinal Christian virtues..and denounced the cardinal sins, especially covetousness.
1889 Jrnl. Amer. Oriental Soc. 13 233 Let him of us be guilty of the five cardinal sins, and all the little sins.
1934 F. A. Spencer Beyond Damascus 91 According to Jewish belief.., the Torah embodied the entire revealed will of God. The failure, therefore, to perform the smallest rite was almost as serious as a cardinal sin.
2003 Newsweek (Nexis) 21 Apr. 62 Seven colors corresponding to the seven cardinal sins—silver-blue for avarice and bordeaux for lust.
2. Usually hyperbolically: an unpardonable error or shortcoming; the worst mistake one can make in a particular context, occupation, etc.Sometimes (as in quot. 1774) with direct allusion to sense 1.
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1774 Public Advertiser 17 Jan. Q. What are the seven Cardinal Sins of a Court? A. Obstinacy, Dullness, Insolence, Meanness, Oppressiveness, Perfidy, and Ingratitude.
1804 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 1 Sept. 332 Treating is not regarded as a cardinal sin.
1825 Times 21 July 3/1 [He] thinks he commits a cardinal sin if he neglects noticing..the birth and parentage of every single-paving stone.
1899 T. Roosevelt Rough Riders App. 292 War means fighting; and the soldier's cardinal sin is timidity.
1912 C. Mathewson Pitching in Pinch ii. 36 When a new player breaks into the League, he is put to the most severe test by the other men to see if he is ‘yellow’... It is the cardinal sin in a ball player.
2000 Driving Instructor Feb. 3/4 [He] committed the cardinal sin of not doing a dummy run and checking where the driving test centre was located that his client had booked.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2021; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1603