cardinal

[ kahr-dn-l ]
/ ˈkɑr dn l /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR cardinal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of prime importance; chief; principal: of cardinal significance.
of the color cardinal.

noun

Origin of cardinal

before 1150; Middle English, Old English < Latin cardinālis, equivalent to cardin- (stem of cardō) hinge, hence, something on which other things hinge + -ālis -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM cardinal

Words nearby cardinal

cardiff, cardigan, cardigan bay, cardiganshire, cardin, cardinal, cardinal beetle, cardinal flower, cardinal grosbeak, cardinal ligament, cardinal number

Words related to cardinally

naturally, unquestionably, undoubtedly, automatically, particularly, chiefly, mostly, largely, generally, notably, basically, predominantly, importantly, primarily, accordingly, consequently, fundamentally, indubitably, perforce, positively

Example sentences from the Web for cardinally

  • "Eat an' drink," she said, as if these actions were the cardinally important ones of life.

    The Call of the Canyon |Zane Grey

  • Thus was he cardinally consigned to the good graces of the Church and of God.

    Droll Stories, Complete |Honore de Balzac

British Dictionary definitions for cardinally

cardinal
/ (ˈkɑːdɪnəl) /

noun

adjective

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