in a general sense, an appellation given to things on account of their preeminence: thus we say, cardinal virtues, &c.

CARDINAL signs in the zodiac, are Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn.

more particularly signifies an ecclesiastical prince in the Roman church, being one who has a voice in the conclave at the election of a pope. The cardinals were originally nothing more than deacons, to whom was intrusted the care of distributing the alms to the poor of the several quarters of Rome; and as they held assemblies of the poor in certain churches of their several districts, they took the title of these churches. They began to be called cardinals in the year 300, during the pontificate of St Sylvester, by which appellation was meant the chief priests of a parish, and next in dignity to a bishop. This office grew more considerable afterwards, and by small degrees arrived at its present height, in which it is the reward of such as have served his holiness well, even princes thinking it no diminution of their honour to become members of the college of cardinals.

The cardinals compose the pope's council, and till the time of Urban VIII. were styled most illustrious; but by a decree of that pope in 1630, they had the title of eminence conferred upon them.

At the creation of a new cardinal, the pope performs the ceremony of shutting and opening his mouth, which is done in a private consistory. The shutting his mouth, implies the depriving him of the liberty of giving his opinion in congregations; and the opening his mouth, which is performed fifteen days after, signifies the taking off this restraint. However, if the pope happens to die during the time a cardinal's mouth is shut, he can neither give his voice in the election of a new pope, nor be himself advanced to that dignity.

The cardinals are divided into six classes or orders, consisting of six bishops, fifty priests, and fourteen deacons, making in all seventy; which constitute the sacred college. The number of cardinal-bishops has very seldom been changed, but that of priests and deacons have varied at different times.

The privileges of the cardinals are very great: They have an absolute power in the church during the vacancy of the holy see: They have a right to elect the new pope, and are the only persons on whom the choice can fall: Most of the grand offices in the court of Rome are filled by cardinals. The dress of a cardinal is a red soutanne, a rochet, a short purple mantle, and the red hat. When they are sent to the courts of princes, it is in quality of legates a latere; and when they are appointed governors of towns, their government is called by the name of legation.

Cardinal is also a title given to some bishops, as those of Mentz and Milan, to the archbishop of Bourges; and the abbot of Vendome calls himself cardinalis natus.

Cardinal's flower. See Rapuntium.