cardinality etymology

Etymology:

• Late Latin cardinali-, cardinalis "chief"
• From Latin cardo, cardinis "hinge, pivot"

Meaning:

• Of primary importance or rank

Origin:

The word "cardinal" derives from the Latin word "cardo," which means "hinge" or "pivot." This word was extended to mean "chief" or "principal," as a hinge is the essential component upon which a door or other object swings.

In ancient Rome, "cardinales" were high-ranking officials who served as advisors to the emperor. Later, the term was adopted by the Christian Church to refer to the most senior bishops who elected the pope.

Over time, the meaning of "cardinal" expanded to include anything of primary importance or rank. For example, in set theory, the cardinality of a set is the number of elements it contains.

cardinality relate terms

• cardinal

  Etymology The word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardinalis meaning chief or

• cardinal

  Etymology The word cardinal comes from the Latin word cardinalis meaning chief or

• number

  Etymology Comes from the Old French word nombere which derives from the Latin numer

• abyss

  Etymology The word abyss comes from the Greek word ἄβυσσος abyssos which m

• Jehovah

  Etymology The name Jehovah is an Anglicization of the Hebrew name Yahweh יהוה

• control

  Etymology Latin controllus meaning check restraint French contrôle English

• zodiac

  Etymology The word zodiac is derived from the Late Latin word zōdiacus which in tur

• epithet

  Epithet Etymology Derived from the Greek word epítheton meaning something added on

• lotus

  Etymology The word lotus is derived from the Greek word lotos which may have origi

• paraphernalia

  Etymology of Paraphernalia The word paraphernalia is derived from Late Latin paraph

• hoedown

  Etymology The word hoedown is derived from the phrase hoe down which referred to a p

• costume

  Etymology From Old French costume from Late Latin consuetudo meaning custom usage