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ordinal

1
[ awr-dn-uhl ]
/ ˈɔr dn əl /
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adjective
of or relating to an order, as of animals or plants.
of or relating to order, rank, or position in a series.
noun
an ordinal number or numeral.
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Origin of ordinal

1
1590–1600; <Late Latin ōrdinālis in order equivalent to Latin ōrdin- (stem of ōrdō) order + -ālis-al1

OTHER WORDS FROM ordinal

or·di·nal·ly, adverb

Other definitions for ordinal (2 of 2)

ordinal2
[ awr-dn-uhl ]
/ ˈɔr dn əl /

noun
a directory of ecclesiastical services.
a book containing the forms for the ordination of priests, consecration of bishops, etc.

Origin of ordinal

2
1350–1400; Middle English <Medieval Latin ōrdināle, noun use of neuter of ōrdinālis in order. See ordinal1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ordinal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ordinal

ordinal
/ (ˈɔːdɪnəl) /

adjective
denoting a certain position in a sequence of numbers
of, relating to, or characteristic of an order in biological classification
noun
short for ordinal number
a book containing the forms of services for the ordination of ministers
RC Church a service book

Word Origin for ordinal

C14: (in the sense: orderly): from Late Latin ordinalis denoting order or place in a series, from Latin ordō order
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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