Roman Catholic Church. a high ecclesiastic appointed by the pope to the College of Cardinals and ranking above every other ecclesiastic but the pope.
any bird belonging to the genus Cardinalis of the family Cardinalidae (cardinal family), especially the common northern cardinal of North America, the male of which is bright red.
any bird of the Americas belonging to the genus Piranga,Chlorothraupis, or Habia, including the scarlet tanager: these three genera were long considered part of the tanager family but are now classified as members of the cardinal family.
Also called red-head·ed car·di·nal[red-hed-id kahr-dn-l] /ˈrɛdˌhɛd ɪd ˈkɑr dn l/ . any bird belonging to the genus Paroaria of the tanager family (Thraupidae), noted for drab plumage other than conspicuously red head parts: most common in South America, Paroaria species include the prominently crested P. coronata, which has been successfully introduced to Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
Also called Med·i·ter·ra·ne·an frit·il·lar·y[med-i-tuh-rey-nee-uhn frit-l-er-ee] /ˌmɛd ɪ təˈreɪ ni ən ˈfrɪt lˌɛr i/ . a spotted, orange nymphalid butterfly with a green underside, Argynnis pandora, found throughout southern Europe and some adjoining regions of Asia and northern Africa.
a deep, rich red color.
a woman's short cloak with a hood, originally made of scarlet cloth and popularly worn in the 18th century.
cardinal number.
adjective
of prime importance; chief; principal: of cardinal significance.
of the color cardinal.
Origin of cardinal
First recorded before 1150; Middle English, Old English, from Latin cardinālis, equivalent to cardin- (stem of cardō ) “hinge,” hence, something on which other things hinge + -ālis adjective suffix; see -al1
Fill it with a variety of nonaggressive fish—like neon and cardinal tetras—and cute aquarium decor.
The best fish tanks for every space|PopSci Commerce Team|October 8, 2020|Popular Science
Defenses may have overreacted to dribble penetration, violating the cardinal rule of never helping off the strongside corner.
Why Have NBA Offenses Been So Good In The Bubble?|Mike Prada|August 20, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Krajewski is one of the youngest cardinals in the world, aged 56, and he said that this is what Jesus would have done.
Pope’s “Robin Hood” Gives Money To Jobless Transgender Sex Workers|D. N.|May 2, 2020|No Straight News
However, the priest’s resources were stretched by the health crisis, so he turned to the cardinal known as “the Pope’s Robin Hood” who runs the Vatican charities, and he wired money to help the group.
Pope’s “Robin Hood” Gives Money To Jobless Transgender Sex Workers|D. N.|May 2, 2020|No Straight News
“Light trumps darkness, hope beats despair, grace wins over sin, love defeats hate, life conquers death,” the cardinal said.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Elisabetta Piqué, who knew Bergoglio well as a cardinal, writes in the present tense as if to convey real time passing.
How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF|Jason Berry|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And yet, a dossier of allegations involving human rights could not help any cardinal at a moment like that.
How Pope Francis Became the World’s BFF|Jason Berry|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The cardinals had such a bad reputation that the very term “cardinal” became an insult in Renaissance Rome.
Great Renaissance Art Thrived Amid Filth|Nick Romeo|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps, as one cardinal recently complained, the chaos is the plan.
Is Pope Francis Backpedaling on Gays?|Jay Michaelson|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The cardinal wanted a benefice for one of his followers, and the Pope wished to get his son's enemy once more into his power.
Renaissance in Italy Vol. 3|John Addington Symonds
Chavigni repaid the Cardinal with heartfelt gratitude, with firm adherence, and uncompromising service.
Richelieu, v. 1/3|G. P. R. James
"Of course, I shall continue to work with the Cardinal," said the priest, when the family gave him time to speak.
Marzio's Crucifix and Zoroaster|F. Marion Crawford
The ascetic side of it became the cardinal idea of religious virtue in the Middle Ages.
Folkways|William Graham Sumner
Cardinal Cajetan was the legate, and he was but little fitted to deal with Luther.
Great Men and Famous Women. Vol. 3 of 8|Various
British Dictionary definitions for cardinal
cardinal
/ (ˈkɑːdɪnəl) /
noun
RC Churchany of the members of the Sacred College, ranking next after the pope, who elect the pope and act as his chief counsellors
Also called: cardinal reda deep vivid red colour
See cardinal number
Also called: cardinal grosbeak, (US)redbirda crested North American bunting, Richmondena (or Pyrrhuloxia) cardinalis, the male of which has a bright red plumage and the female a brown one
a fritillary butterfly, Pandoriana pandora, found in meadows of southern Europe
a woman's hooded shoulder cape worn in the 17th and 18th centuries
adjective
(usually prenominal)fundamentally important; principalcardinal sin
of a deep vivid red colour
astrologyof or relating to the signs Aries, Cancer, Libra, and CapricornCompare mutable (def. 2), fixed (def. 10)
Derived forms of cardinal
cardinally, adverb
Word Origin for cardinal
C13: from Latin cardinālis, literally: relating to a hinge, hence, that on which something depends, principal, from cardō hinge