[f. CARDINAL sb. + -SHIP.] The state or office of a cardinal; tenure of office of a cardinal.

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1537.  ? Tindale, Exp. St. John, 64. All his doctrine … of benefyces … cardinalships.

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1651.  Reliq. Wotton., 656 (R.). During the time of his cardinalship.

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1783.  W. F. Martyn, Geog. Mag., II. 332. In elevating foreign prelates to the cardinalships.

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1872.  Athenæum, 8 June, 713/1. Montalto’s cardinalship was passed in worries.

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