Definition

Noun: - One of the four principal moral virtues upon which all other virtues are considered to hinge or depend. These are prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. This is the primary philosophical and theological meaning. - A fundamental or preeminent virtue. In a more general, modern sense, it can refer to any virtue of the greatest importance or foundational quality.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • In classical philosophy, the cardinal virtue of justice governs our interactions with others.
  • Honesty is often considered a cardinal virtue in many professional fields.
  • The sermon focused on temperance, one of the four cardinal virtues.

Advanced Usage

• "The cardinal virtues": This specific plural phrase almost always refers to the classic set of four: prudence, justice, fortitude (or courage), and temperance.
  • Ancient Greek thinkers, like Plato, systematically defined the cardinal virtues.

Variants and Related Words

• Virtue (n): moral excellence, righteousness, or a commendable quality.
  • Patience is a virtue.
• Cardinal (adj): of foremost importance, fundamental.
  • This is a cardinal rule you must not break.

Synonyms

• Primary virtue
• Fundamental virtue
• Principal virtue
• Pivotal virtue

Antonyms

• Cardinal sin (n): one of the seven deadly sins, representing a fundamental vice.
  • Pride is often called a cardinal sin.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "A cardinal virtue": Used to emphasize the foundational importance of a specific good quality.
  • In this company, transparency is held up as a cardinal virtue.

Noun

1. one of the seven preeminent virtues