ordain

CEFRC1

/ɔɹˈdeɪn/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To officially make someone a religious minister.

  2. 02

    verb

    To order or establish something officially.

Examples

  • The bishop's role includes the power to select, ordain, and supervise ministers.

  • What if the Foot, ordain'd the duſt to tread, / Or Hand, to toil, aſpir'd to be the Head? / What if the Head, the Eye, or Ear repin'd / To ſerve mere Engines to the ruling Mind?

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
2
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To admit into the ministry, for example as a priest, bishop, minister or Buddhist monk, or to authorize as a rabbi.

  2. To decree.

  3. To prearrange unalterably.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The church council voted to blank him as a minister after his long training.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English ordeynen, from Old French ordiner, from Latin ordinare (“to order”), from ordo (“order”). Doublet of ordinate.