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It is not only important, but, in a degree necessary, that the people of this country, should have an American Dictionary of the English language; for, although the body of the language is the same as in England, and it is desirable to perpetuate that sameness, yet some differences must exist. Language is the expression of ideas; and if the people of one country cannot preserve an identity of ideas, they cannot retain an identity of language. |
CARDINAL, a. Chief, principal, preeminent, or fundamental; as the cardinal virtues, which Pagans supposed to be justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude.
CARDINAL, n.
Of
fundamental importance; preëminent; superior; chief;
principal.
The cardinal intersections of the
zodiac. Impudence is now a cardinal virtue. But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I
fear ye. Cardinal numbers, the numbers one, two,
three, etc., in distinction from first, second,
third, etc., which are called ordinal numbers.
-- Cardinal points One of the
ecclesiastical princes who constitute the pope's council, or the
sacred college.
The clerics of the supreme Chair are called
Cardinals, as undoubtedly adhering more nearly to the
hinge by which all things are moved. * The cardinals are appointed by the pope. Since the time of Sixtus V., their number can never exceed seventy (six of episcopal rank, fifty priests, fourteen deacons), and the number of cardinal priests and deacons is seldom full. When the papel chair is vacant a pope is elected by the college of cardinals from among themselves. The cardinals take precedence of all dignitaries except the pope. The principal parts of a cardinal's costume are a red cassock, a rochet, a short purple mantle, and a red hat with a small crown and broad brim, with cords and tessels of a special pattern hanging from it. A woman's short cloak with a
hood.
Where's your cardinal! Make haste. Mulled red wine.
Hotten.
Cardinal bird, or Cardinal grosbeak (Zoöl.), an American song bird (Cardinalis cardinalis, or C. Virginianus), of the family Fringillidæ, or finches having a bright red plumage, and a high, pointed crest on its head. The males have loud and musical notes resembling those of a fife. Other related species are also called cardinal birds. -- Cardinal flower (Bot.), an herbaceous plant (Lobelia cardinalis) bearing brilliant red flowers of much beauty. -- Cardinal red, a color like that of a cardinal's cassock, hat, etc.; a bright red, darker than scarlet, and between scarlet and crimson. | ||||||||