cardinal sign

American

noun

Astrology.

any of the four astrological signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, that begin at the equinoxes and solstices, thus marking the beginning of the seasons: characterized by the attribute of strong initiative.

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Brain shrinkage is a cardinal sign of dementia and brain damage in general.

From Washington Post • May 1, 2023

Libra, as a cardinal sign, is somewhat more stable.

From The Verge • Jun. 26, 2019

Yet another cardinal sign of frailty is weight loss.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023