Cardinal points

Cardinal points
Cardinal Car"di*nal, a. [L. cardinalis, fr. cardo the hinge of a door, that on which a thing turns or depends: cf. F. cardinal.] Of fundamental importance; pre["e]minent; superior; chief; principal. [1913 Webster]

The cardinal intersections of the zodiac. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

Impudence is now a cardinal virtue. --Drayton. [1913 Webster]

But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{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} (Zo["o]l.), 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}, pre["e]minent virtues; among the ancients, prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude.

{Cardinal winds}, winds which blow from the cardinal points due north, south, east, or west. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cardinal points — n. the four principal points of the compass; north, south, east, and west …   English World dictionary

  • cardinal points — The four intersections of the horizon with the meridian and the prime vertical circle (or simply the prime vertical). The intersection with the meridian is designated north and south, and the intersection with the prime vertical is designated… …   Aviation dictionary

  • cardinal points — the four chief directions of the compass; the north, south, east, and west points. [1540 50] * * * cardinal points, any one of the four main directions of the compass; north, south, east, west. * * * ˌcardinal ˈpoints [ …   Useful english dictionary

  • cardinal points — 1. a group of points on the optic axis, including the nodal points, the principal foci, and the optic center; they may include conjugate focal points of the object and image. Called also principal p s. 2. four points within the pelvic inlet: the… …   Medical dictionary

  • cardinal points — car′dinal points′ n. pl. geo the north, south, east, and west points of the compass • Etymology: 1540–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • cardinal points — the four chief directions of the compass; the north, south, east, and west points. [1540 50] * * * …   Universalium

  • cardinal points — East, west, north, and south; the four points of the compass …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • cardinal points of the ecliptic — the two equinoctial and the two solstitial points …   Useful english dictionary

  • cardinal points —   North, South, East, West …   Geography glossary

  • Cardinal direction — Cardinal point redirects here. For other uses of the term, see Cardinal point (disambiguation). A compass rose showing the four cardinal directions, the four ordinal directions, plus eight further divisions. The four cardinal directions or… …   Wikipedia

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