Ordinary Meaning
/ˈɔːdɪnəɹi/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA person with authority; authority, ordinance.
nounA person with authority; authority, ordinance., A person having immediate jurisdiction in a given case of ecclesiastical law, such as the bishop within a diocese.
Sentence Examples
Please come in an ordinary dress.
It was out of the ordinary for Chris to behave so roughly.
The colors of the pattern are very ordinary.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
Despite its ____ appearance, the cake was filled with a rich chocolate cream.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was an ____ Tuesday morning until the unexpected phone call changed everything.
Word Origin & History
From Anglo-Norman ordenarie, ordenaire et al., Middle French ordinaire, and their source, Medieval Latin ordinarius, noun use of Latin ōrdinārius (“regular, orderly”), from ōrdō (“order”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"He died with pious composure and resolution. I have just seen the Ordinary that attended him."
— 1791, James Boswell, “(please specify the year)”, in James Boswell, editor, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. […], London: […] Henry Baldwin, for Charles Dilly, […], →OCLC:
"In short, Mr. Jolter could give a very good account of the stages on the road, and […] was a connoisseur in ordinaries, from twelve to five and thirty livres […]."
— 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, chapter XLIII, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
"Vpon feſtiuall daies he goes to Court, and ſalutes vvithout re-ſaluting: at night in an Ordinarie he confeſſeth the buſineſſe in hand, and ſeemes as converſant vvith all intents and plots, as if he begot them."
— 1612 (date written), Thomas Overburye [i.e. Thomas Overbury], “Characters, or Witty Descriptions of the Properties of Sundry Persons. An Affected Traueller.”, in A Wife Now the Widdow of Sir Thomas Overburye. Being a Most Exquisite and Singular Poem of the Choice of a Wife. […], London: […] [Edward Griffin] for Lawrence Lisle, […], published 1614, →OCLC, signature E, verso:
"We are most part too inquisitive and apt to hearken after news, which Cæsar, in his Commentaries, observes of the old Gauls, they would be inquiring of every carrier and passenger what they had heard or seen, what news abroad? […] as at an ordinary with us, bakehouse, or barber's shop."
— 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 2, section 4, member 2:
"Thus furnished, they come up to town, reckon all their errors for accomplishments, borrow the newest set of phrases ; and if they take a pen into their hands, all the odd words they have picked up in a coffeehouse, or a gaming ordinary, are produced as flowers of style."
— 1712 March 4 (date written; Gregorian calendar), J[onathan] Swift, A Proposal for Correcting, Improving and Ascertaining the English Tongue; […], 2nd edition, London: […] Benj[amin] Tooke, […], published 1712, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Despite its ____ appearance, the cake was filled with a rich chocolate cream.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was an ____ Tuesday morning until the unexpected phone call changed everything.