Middle English Dictionary Entry
cardinā̆l adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | cardinā̆l adj. |
| Etymology | L cardinālis & F cardinal. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Chief, principal, primary: (a) ~ signe, one of the four zodiacal signs marking the equinoxes and the solstices; (b) ~ sister, fig. one of the cardinal virtues; (c) ~ vertu, one of the four chief virtues necessary to earthly life; (d) ~ wind, wind directly from the north, south, east, or west.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108b/a : Among þise xij signes, foure beþ cardinal signes..as cancer hiest and capricornus lowest, Aries & libra in þe middel.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108b/b : Þe foure cardinal signes..beþ aries, cancer, libra, capricornus, ffor in þese signes tyme chaungiþ.
b
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)384/400 : Foure cardynal sustre: Force and Rihtwisnesse Weied alle his werkis, by Prudence in ballance, Al passiouns voide in his Attemperance.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)124/2,8 : Of þe uour uirtues cardinales spekeþ moche þe yealde philosofes..sleȝþe..temperance..strengþe..dom..þise uour uirtues byeþ y-cleped cardinals.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)800 : Foure vertues cardinals þer beoþ; Þat is, Strengþe and Sleihschupe, Rihtfulnesse and worschupe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10008 : Þas er four vertus principals þe quilk man clepes cardinals [Göt: cardinalys; Trin-C: cardinales]..rightwis[nes] and meth, For-sight and strenght.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.269 : And grace gaue greynes, þe cardynales [vr. Cardynal] vertues.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.333 : To greuen he þinketh Conscience..and cardinale vertues.
- (c1434) Drury Wks.(CmbAdd 2830)78/129 : Þey ben callid cardinal vertues and þei ben of an oþer forme, for þey longyn to þe rewle of amanys lyf.
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)29/31 : Þe foure vertus cardynalles..þat es Cunnynge and Rightwisnes, Force and Mesure.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)2 : The iiii Cardinal Vertous, as Justice, Prudence, Fors, and Temperaunce.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)427 : She had feyth, hope, and cheryte, The deuyne vertuhs, and ther-wyth-al The foure gret vertuhs clepyd cardynal.
- (a1449) Lydg.Ave Jesse (Hrl 2255)97 : The foure vertues callyd Cardinal.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)122/11,18 : Of þe four cardinal vertues..þe first prudence, þe secunde attemperaunce, þe þridde stryngþe, þe ferþe iustice, þat is riȝtwisnesse. Þes foure vertues ben cleped cardinals.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.5 : The triuialle of the vertues theologicalle and quadriuialle of the cardinalle vertues.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)146/12 : Cardynal vertues byth callid Pryncipale vertues: the fryst is callid in latyne Prudencia; the Secunde, Iusticia; the thyrde, Fortitudo; the fourthe is Temporancia.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.42 : In marie ware foure vertues whilk men calle cardinale [rime: tale].
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)135a/a : Þe firste of þe cardynales wyndes [L Primus cardinalium] hatte subsolanus and..it is j-clepid eurus, þe esterne wynd.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)135a/b : The secounde cardynale and chief Wynde is fauonius, þe westerne Wynde..The þridde cardynal and chief wynd is auster.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)135b/b : The furþe cardinal and chief wind hatte Boreas.