cardin-

1. A reference to an essential or crucial component: "George had certain cardinal rules that he used to live by."
2. Being or indicating a numerical quantity: "Examples of cardinal numbers include one, two, three, four, etc. the opposite of ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) that indicate relative positions."

"The teacher had a cardinal number of 30 pupils in her class."

3. A deep strong red color, like that of the robes of a cardinal: "In the early Catholic Church, some of the bishops and presbyters (priests) were designated cardinal bishops and cardinal priests. They exercised important functions and much depended on (or hinged) on them."

"In time, from these there developed the College of Cardinals as we know it now. The vestments (ceremonial garments) of these dignitaries are red, and what we call cardinal red is a well-known color."

1. In the Roman Catholic Church, one of the group of clergy, next in rank to the pope: "The cardinals elect a pope from their own group and act as his advisers." 2. A crested finch, the male of which has bright red plumage with a black face; native to, North America: "The bird's Latin name is Cardinalis cardinalis and is generally known as a cardinal."
3. A woman's short cape with a hood: "The cardinal cape was originally scarlet in color and was worn in the 17th and 18th centuries."
4. Etymology: from about 1125, "one of the ecclesiastical princes who constitute the sacred college" of the Catholic Church; from Latin cardinalis, "principal, chief, essential"; from cardo, cardinis, "that on which something turns or depends"; originally "door hinge".

Ecclesiastical usage began for the presbyters of the chief, or cardinal, churches of Rome.

A number that indicates a principal quantity: "Cardinal numbers are the primary one, two, three, four, etc. as opposed to ordinal numbers first, second, third, fourth, etc."

Each of the four main points of the compass: "The cardinal points are north, south, east, west."

Each of the primary natural virtues: "The cardinal virtues have been divided into justice, prudence, temperance, and fortitude while cardinal-theological virtues include, faith, hope, and charity."

The rank or office of a Roman Catholic cardinal: "Lana's uncle was a cardinalate or a member of the College of Cardinals."

A reference to a set and the number of elements it contains: "The cardinality of numbers indicate the quantities in a grouping."

A synod of leading dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church: "Cardinals are nominated by the pope and they form the Sacred College, which elects succeeding popes."

The matter is on a door hinge.

Another translation is "We are facing a crisis."

A division of brachiopods including those which have a calcareous shell furnished with a hinge and hinge teeth: "Testicardines each have two shells with a hinge and an internal skeleton."