cardinal

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cardinal chief, principal. XIII. — (O)F. cardinal or L. cardinālis, f. cardō, cardin- hinge; in Eng. first applied to the four virtues of justice, fortitude, temperance, prudence, on which conduct ‘hinges’; see -AL 1.
So cardinal sb. any of the seventy princes (cardinal bishops, priests, and deacons) of the Roman Church that constitute the Pope's council or the Sacred College. XII. — (O)F. — medL.

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