CARDINAL, a. Chief, principal, preeminent, or fundamental; as the cardinal virtues, which Pagans supposed to be justice, prudence, temperance and fortitude.

CARDINAL, n.

Chief, principal, pre-eminent, or fundamental; as, the cardinal virtues, which Pagans supposed to be Justice, Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude.

1. An ecclesiastical prince in the Romish Church, who has a voice in the conclave at the election of a Pope, who is taken from their number. The cardinals are divided into three classes or orders, containing six bishops, fifty priests, and fourteen deacons, making seventy. These constitute the sacred college, and compose the Pope's council. Originally they were subordinate in rank to bishops; but they have now the precedence. The dress of a cardinal is a red soutaine or cassoc, a rocket, a short purple mantle, and a red hat. – Encyc. Spelman.
2. A woman's cloke. Cardinal-flower, a plant of the, genus Lobelia, of many species. They are fibrous-rooted perennials, rising from two to five or six feet high, with erect stalks, ornamented with oblong, oval, spear-shaped simple leaves, and spikes of beautiful monopetalous flowers, of scarlet, blue, and violet colors. The natives of this country use a decoction of one species, the syphilitica, as a remedy in the venereal disease. – Encyc. Cardinal numbers, are the numbers one, two, three, &c. in distinction from first, second, third, &c., which are called ordinal numbers. Cardinal points, in cosmography, are the four intersections of the horizon with the meridian, and the prime vertical circle, or North and South, East and West. In astrology, the cardinal points are the rising and setting of the sun, the Zenith and Nadir. Cardinal signs, in astronomy, are Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn. Cardinal virtues. Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude. Cardinal winds, are those which blow from the cardinal points.

1. Of fundamental importance; preëminent; superior; chief; principal.
   
   

   The cardinal intersections of the zodiac.
   Sir T. Browne.

   Impudence is now a cardinal virtue.
   Drayton.

   But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye.
   Shak.

   Cardinal numbers, the numbers one, two, three, etc., in distinction from first, second, third, etc., which are called ordinal numbers. -- Cardinal points (a) (Geol.) The four principal points of the compass, or intersections of the horizon with the meridian and the prime vertical circle, north, south east, and west. (b) (Astrol.) The rising and setting of the sun, the zenith and nadir. -- Cardinal signs (Astron.) Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn. -- Cardinal teeth (Zoöl.), the central teeth of bivalve shell. See Bivalve. -- Cardinal veins (Anat.), the veins in vertebrate embryos, which run each side of the vertebral column and returm the blood to the heart. They remain through life in some fishes. -- Cardinal virtues, preëminent virtues; among the ancients, prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. -- Cardinal winds, winds which blow from the cardinal points due north, south, east, or west.

2. 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.
   Pope Leo IX.

   * 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.

3. A woman's short cloak with a hood.
   
   

   Where's your cardinal! Make haste.
   Lloyd.

4. 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.