• n. 红衣主教；枢机主教；鲜红色；【鸟类】(北美)主红雀
• adj. 主要的，基本的；深红色的

来自拉丁词cardo, 铰链，枢纽，来自PIE *sker, 转，旋，词源同ring,curve. 常与其另一个记义心脏相混淆。

cardinal

cardinal: [12] The ultimate source of cardinal is Latin cardō ‘hinge’, and its underlying idea is that something of particular, or ‘cardinal’, importance is like the hinge on which all else depends. English first acquired it as a noun, direct from ecclesiastical Latin cardinālis (originally an adjective derived from cardō), which in the early church denoted simply a clergyman attached to a church, as a door is attached by hinges; it only gradually rose in dignity to refer to princes of the Roman Catholic church. The adjective reached English in the 13th century, via Old French cardinal or Latin cardinālis.

cardinal (n.)

early 12c., "one of the ecclesiastical princes who constitute the sacred college" (short for cardinalis ecclesiae Romanae or episcopus cardinalis), from Latin cardinalis "principal, chief, essential" (see cardinal (adj.)).

Ecclesiastical use began for the presbyters of the chief (cardinal) churches of Rome. The North American songbird (Cardinalis virginianus) is attested from 1670s, so named for its resemblance to the cardinals in their red robes.

cardinal (adj.)

"chief, pivotal," early 14c., from Latin cardinalis "principal, chief, essential," from cardo (genitive cardinis) "that on which something turns or depends; pole of the sky," originally "door hinge," which is of unknown origin. Related: Cardinally.

The cardinal points (1540s) are north, south, east, west. The cardinal sins (c. 1600) are too well known to require rehearsal. The cardinal virtues (c. 1300) were divided into natural (justice prudence, temperance, fortitude) and theological (faith, hope, charity). The natural ones were the original classical ones, which were amended by Christians. But typically in Middle English only the first four were counted as the cardinal virtues:

Of þe uour uirtues cardinales spekeþ moche þe yealde philosofes. ["Ayenbite of Inwyt," c. 1340]

By analogy of this, and cardinal points, cardinal winds, cardinal signs (four zodiacal signs marking the equinoxes and the solstices), the adjective in Middle English acquired an association with the number four.

1. Bishop Daly said he was devastated by news of the Cardinal's death.

戴利主教说他听到红衣主教去世的消息后感到极为震惊和难过。

来自柯林斯例句

2. They were encouraged by a promise from Cardinal Winning.

红衣主教温宁的许诺使他们受到鼓舞。

来自柯林斯例句

3. I committed the physician's cardinal sin: I got involved with my patients.

我犯了从医的大忌：跟病人有了感情纠葛。

来自柯林斯例句

4. Cardinal Meschia was without doubt a singular character.

红衣主教梅斯基亚无疑是个怪人。

来自柯林斯例句

5. His Eminence Cardinal Hume celebrated Mass.

休谟红衣主教大人主持了弥撒。

来自柯林斯例句