ordain
[ awr-deyn ]
/ ɔrˈdeɪn /
verb (used with object)
to invest with ministerial or sacerdotal functions; confer holy orders upon.
to enact or establish by law, edict, etc.: to ordain a new type of government.
to decree; give orders for: He ordained that the restrictions were to be lifted.
(of God, fate, etc.) to destine or predestine: Fate had ordained the meeting.
verb (used without object)
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What does "scattergood" mean?
a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.
a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.
a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUTOrigin of ordain
1250–1300; Middle English ordeinen<Old French ordener<Latin ordināre to order, arrange, appoint. See ordination
SYNONYMS FOR ordain
4 predetermine.
OTHER WORDS FROM ordain
Words nearby ordain
orciprenaline sulfate, OR circuit, Orcus, Orczy, ord., ordain, ordainee, ordeal, ordeal bean, ordeal tree, order
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for ordain
British Dictionary definitions for ordain
ordain
/ (ɔːˈdeɪn) /
verb (tr)
to consecrate (someone) as a priest; confer holy orders upon
(may take a clause as object) to decree, appoint, or predestine irrevocably
(may take a clause as object) to order, establish, or enact with authority
obsolete to select for an office
Derived forms of ordain
ordainer, nounordainment, nounWord Origin for ordain
C13: from Anglo-Norman ordeiner, from Late Latin ordināre, from Latin ordo order
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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