Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CARD'A-MOM, n. [Gr. καρδαμωμον.]

A plant of the genus Amomum, and its seeds, a native of India. The seeds of this plant, which grow in a pod, have a warm aromatic flavor, and are used in medicine. – Encyc.

CARD'ED, pp.

Combed; opened; cleansed with cards.

CARD'ER, n.

One who cards wool; also, one who plays much at cards. – Wotton.

CARD'I-AC, or CARD-I'AC-AL, a. [L. cardiacus; Gr. καρδιακος, from καρδια, the heart.]

1. Pertaining to the heart.
2. Exciting action in the heart, through the medium of the stomach; having the quality of stimulating action in the system, invigorating the spirits, and giving strength and cheerfulness. – Med. Dict.

CARD'I-AC, n.

A medicine which excites action in the stomach, and animates the spirits.

CAR'DI-ACE, n.

A precious stone.

CARD'I-AL-GY, n. [Gr. καρδια, the heart, and αλγος, pain.]

The heart-burn, a violent sensation of heat and acrimony in the upper or left orifice of the stomach, seemingly at the heart, but rising into the esophagus. It is called also the cardiac passion.

CARD'I-NAL, a. [L. cardinalis, said to be from cardo, a hinge.]

Chief, principal, pre-eminent, or fundamental; as, the cardinal virtues, which Pagans supposed to be Justice, Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude.

CARD'I-NAL, n.

1. An ecclesiastical prince in the Romish Church, who has a voice in the conclave at the election of a Pope, who is taken from their number. The cardinals are divided into three classes or orders, containing six bishops, fifty priests, and fourteen deacons, making seventy. These constitute the sacred college, and compose the Pope's council. Originally they were subordinate in rank to bishops; but they have now the precedence. The dress of a cardinal is a red soutaine or cassoc, a rocket, a short purple mantle, and a red hat. – Encyc. Spelman.
2. A woman's cloke. Cardinal-flower, a plant of the, genus Lobelia, of many species. They are fibrous-rooted perennials, rising from two to five or six feet high, with erect stalks, ornamented with oblong, oval, spear-shaped simple leaves, and spikes of beautiful monopetalous flowers, of scarlet, blue, and violet colors. The natives of this country use a decoction of one species, the syphilitica, as a remedy in the venereal disease. – Encyc. Cardinal numbers, are the numbers one, two, three, &c. in distinction from first, second, third, &c., which are called ordinal numbers. Cardinal points, in cosmography, are the four intersections of the horizon with the meridian, and the prime vertical circle, or North and South, East and West. In astrology, the cardinal points are the rising and setting of the sun, the Zenith and Nadir. Cardinal signs, in astronomy, are Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn. Cardinal virtues. Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude. Cardinal winds, are those which blow from the cardinal points.

CARD'I-NAL-ATE, or CARD'I-NAL-SHIP, n.

The office, rank, or dignity of a cardinal.

CARD'I-NAL-IZE, v.t.

To make a cardinal. [Little used.] – Sheldon.

CARD'ING, ppr.

1. Combing, as flax, wool, &c.
2. Playing at cards. [Little used.]

CARD'ING-MA-CHINE, n.

A machine lately invented, for combing, breaking, and cleansing wool and cotton. It consists of cylinders, thick set with teeth, and moved by the force of water, steam, &c.

CARD'I-OID, n. [Gr. καρδια, heart, and ειδος, form.]

An algebraic curve, so called from its resemblance to a heart. – Chambers.

CARD'ITE, n.

Fossil, or petrified shells of the genus Cardium. – Jameson.

CAR-DI'TIS, n.

Inflammation of the heart.

CARD'-MAK-ER, n. [card and maker.]

A maker of cards.

CARD'-MATCH, n. [card and match.]

A match made by dipping pieces of card in melted sulphur. – Addison.

CAR-DOON', n. [Sp. cardon; L. carduus.]

A species of Cynara, resembling the artichoke, but larger. – Chambers.

CARD'-TA-BLE, n.

The table appropriated to the use of gamesters, or used for playing cards on.

CAR'DU-US-BEN-E-DICT'US, n.

The herb blessed thistle.

CARE, n. [Sax. car, cara; Goth. kar, kara; Ir. car; L. cura. In Welch, cur is care, anxiety; also, a blow, or beating, a throb; curaw, to beat, strike, or throb, to fight; curiaw, to trouble, vex, pine, or waste away. In L. curo signifies to care, and to cure. In Sp. curar is to prescribe medicine; to salt or cure, as flesh; to season, as timber; to bleach, as cloth; intransitively, to recover from sickness; and reciprocally, to take care of one's self. In Italian, curare is to cure, attend, protect, defend, and to value or esteem. In French, curer is to cleanse; “curer les dens,” to pick the teeth; cure is a benefice. The primary sense is, to strain, or stretch, as in care, attention, and curious is stretching forward; but the sense of separating, or driving off, is comprehended, which gives the French sense, and the sense of prying into is included in curious. The sense of healing is from that of care, or making sound and strong. The Welch sense of beating is from driving, thrusting, coinciding with straining. See Cark and Cure.]

1. Concern; anxiety; solicitude; noting some degree of pain in the mind, from apprehension of evil. They shall eat bread by weight and with care. – Ezek. iv.
2. Caution; a looking to; regard; attention, or heed, with a view to safety or protection, as in the phrase, “take care of yourself.” A want of care does more damage than a want of knowledge. – Franklin.
3. Charge or oversight, implying concern for safety and prosperity; as, he was under the care of a physician. That which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. – 2 Cor. xi.
4. The object of care, or watchful regard and attention; as, “Is she thy care?” – Dryden.

CARE, v.i.

1. To be anxious or solicitous; to be concerned about. Master, carest thou not that we perish? – Mark iv.
2. To be inclined or disposed; to have regard to; with for before a noun, and to before a verb. “Not caring to observe the wind.” “Great masters in painting never care for drawing people in the fashion.” In this sense the word implies a less degree of concern. The different degrees of anxiety expressed by this word constitute the chief differences in its signification or applications.

CARE'-CRAZ-ED, a. [care and craze.]

Broken or disordered by care, or solicitude; as, a care-crazed mother. – Shak.

CARE-DE-FY'ING, a.

Bidding defiance to care. – Shenstone.