cardinal
cardinal
(kärʹdn-əl, kärdʹnəl) adjective
1.
Of foremost importance; paramount: a cardinal rule; cardinal sins.
2.
Color. Dark to deep or vivid red.
noun
1.
Abbr. Card. Roman Catholic Church. A high church official, ranking just below the pope, who has been appointed by a pope to membership in the College of Cardinals.
2. Color. A dark to deep or vivid red.
3. A North American finch (Cardinalis cardinalis) having a crested head, a short, thick bill, and bright red plumage in the male.
4. A short, hooded cloak, originally of scarlet cloth, worn by women in the 18th century.
5. A cardinal number.
[Middle English, from Late Latin cardinālis, principal, pivotal, from Latin, serving as a hinge, from cardō, cardin-, hinge.]
car
ʹdinalship noun