cardine

hinge, pivot

noun KAR-dee-neh Rare

Origin: From Latin cardo/cardinis (hinge, pivot).

Also means

keystone, cornerstone

Usage Note

Cardine is masculine despite its -e ending. Literally it is the pin of a door hinge; figuratively it means a cornerstone or pivotal element (il cardine della democrazia = the cornerstone of democracy). The plural cardini is regular. The related adjective cardinale (cardinal, pivotal) is more common in everyday speech.

Examples

"La libertà di stampa è un cardine della democrazia."

Natural Translation

Freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy.

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