cardinal
(Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,895 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 5,691 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.003% of every word in the library.
What it means
noun
- (Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
- the number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order also: cardinal number
- a variable color averaging a vivid red also: carmine
- crested thick-billed North American finch having bright red plumage in the male also: cardinal grosbeak, Richmondena Cardinalis, Cardinalis cardinalis, redbird
adjective
- serving as an essential component also: central, fundamental, key, primal a cardinal rulethe central cause of the problem
- being or denoting a numerical quantity but not order cardinal numbers
cardinal in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
-
A grave and reverend Cardinal, and his Grace The Archbishop of Toledo.
The Complete Poetical Works of Henry · Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Chapter 2
-
It was from the neglect of this cardinal point that the Templars fell.
A Knight of the White Cross · G. A. (George Alfred) Henty · Chapter 1
-
Go, go, Complain unto my great lord cardinal; It may be he will justify the act.
The White Devil · John Webster · Chapter 1
-
It hath been also esteemed an act flowing from the habit of the four cardinal virtues.
Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 3 · François Rabelais · Chapter 2
-
The litter of Cardinal Campeggio passed through the gateway and proceeded to the lodgings reserved for his eminence.
Windsor Castle · William Harrison Ainsworth · Chapter 1