Gone But Still Existent

[aesmael]

I may not have been here much lately but I did manage 1439 new words. Something to be pleased with. Also reading. Baroness Orczy commits a cardinal sin (that is, something Richelieu might do) in The Scarlet Pimpernel and lies to the reader with authorial voice (pg 54 in my copy).

Digression: Since cardinal is a (apparently rarely used) term for the positive integers (1, 2, 3, 4, ...) I am wondering if the term is related to the so-called Seven Deadly Sins as something numbered.

For referencing I know of cardinal as the numbers, the high-ranked Catholic priest, the red bird (named for the priest, I believe) and the phrase 'cardinal sin'. Anyone know of any others?

Comments

[chaoticset.livejournal.com]

It actually also refers to how they're being used. Cardinal refers to when it's merely a quantity of something, as in "I've had two cups of coffee." Ordinal refers to the use of numbers to denote a sequence, as in "I'm on my third cup of coffee."

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

I was in fact intending to mention ordinal numbers too, before I went for a drive and forgot about that part of the post. Specifically I was wondering if, since the sounds of 'cardinal' and 'ordinal' are similar, are the words related in origin. Or is my imagination seeing patterns where none exist? More to look up.

Thank you! *hugs*

[chaoticset.livejournal.com]

Cardinal comes from a latin root referring to primary components.

Ordinal comes from a root denoting an order.

It's the d + inal, but they're not really related.

[pouringsand.livejournal.com]

Cardinal directions, as well (N, W, S, E). And I believe there is a medical term, too... might be wrong, but cardinal veins, I think? Not sure, but probably Google-able.

There is also the use to indicate anything of particular note or outstanding importance, like 'cardinal rule' or similar.

[lost-angelwings.livejournal.com]

Yay!

I want to focus on my writing soon :(

When I get Erin to 50, bug me to write and stop playing CoH at night :)

They're a baseball team too! But that's named after the bird :|

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

Oh! Isn't cardiology the field of medicine relating to the heart?

There is also the use to indicate anything of particular note or outstanding importance, like 'cardinal rule' or similar.
And that. Hmm, thank you!

[aesmael.livejournal.com]

Kay!

*pokes you*

Are you there yet?