Cardinalate

Origin

From Latin cardinalatus, from cardinalis ("cardinal"), itself the noun use of the adjective derived from cardo ("hinge, main point") + -alis ("-al").

Full definition of cardinalate

Noun

1. The dignity and ecclestiastic office of Roman Catholic cardinal.''The cardinalate ranks equal to a secular prince of the blood
2. Collective term for the cardinals.''The cardinalate under a maximum age composes the conclave which elects the pope

Synonyms

• (office) cardinalship