Where does “cardinal virtue” come from?
cardinal virtue (English) comes from Latin cardinālis, from Latin cardō, from Latin carduus, from Proto-Indo-European ḱers- — to run.
cardinal virtue (English): One of the four foundational virtues identified by Greek and Christian philosophers, on which other virtues depend: justice, temperance, prudence, or fortitude
Definitions
- One of the four foundational virtues identified by Greek and Christian philosophers, on which other virtues depend: justice, temperance, prudence, or fortitude
Ancestry of “cardinal virtue”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | cardinālis | of or pertaining to a door hinge |
| 2 | Latin | cardō | hinge (of a door or gate), usually a pivot and socket in Roman times |
| 3 | Latin | carduus | a wild thistle; the artichoke |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱers- | to run |