ORDAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ordain mean? 

• ORDAIN (verb)
  The verb ORDAIN has 4 senses:

1. order by virtue of superior authority; decree

2. appoint to a clerical posts

3. invest with ministerial or priestly authority

4. issue an order

  Familiarity information: ORDAIN used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ORDAIN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they ordain    ... he / she / it ordains   
Past simple: ordained   
Past participle: ordained   
-ing form: ordaining   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Order by virtue of superior authority; decree

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

enact; ordain

Context example:

the legislature enacted this law in 1985

Hypernyms (to "ordain" is one way to...):

decree (issue a decree)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ordain"):

reenact (enact again)

legislate; pass (make laws, bills, etc. or bring into effect by legislation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 2

Meaning:

Appoint to a clerical posts

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

consecrate; ordain; order; ordinate

Context example:

he was ordained in the Church

Hypernyms (to "ordain" is one way to...):

enthrone; invest; vest (provide with power and authority)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Derivation:

ordainer (a cleric who ordains; a cleric who admits someone to holy orders)

ordinance (the act of ordaining; the act of conferring (or receiving) holy orders)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Invest with ministerial or priestly authority

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

The minister was ordained only last month

Hypernyms (to "ordain" is one way to...):

enthrone; invest; vest (provide with power and authority)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

ordainer (a cleric who ordains; a cleric who admits someone to holy orders)

ordinance (the act of ordaining; the act of conferring (or receiving) holy orders)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Issue an order

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "ordain" is one way to...):

decree (issue a decree)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "ordain"):

predestine (decree or determine beforehand)

will (decree or ordain)

designate; destine; doom; fate (decree or designate beforehand)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

ordinance (a statute enacted by a city government)

 Context examples 

Ordained individuals who perform spiritual and/or religious functions.

(Clergy, NCI Dictionary)

“I have been ordained,” cried the old rascal.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It seemed the ordained order of things that dogs should work.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

It may be ordained that we have many nights and days to follow, if full of peril; but we must go on, and from no danger shall we shrink.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

“Indeed, your high and mighty grace,” sneered one of the yeomen, “have you in sooth so ordained?”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Ay, to be sure, he must be ordained in readiness; and I am very glad to find things are so forward between you.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

How unlucky that you are not ordained; Mr. Rushworth and Maria are quite ready.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

God, who does the work, ordains the instrument.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

He had found the law a most unprofitable study, and was now absolutely resolved on being ordained, if I would present him to the living in question—of which he trusted there could be little doubt, as he was well assured that I had no other person to provide for, and I could not have forgotten my revered father's intentions.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Being only 'a glorious human boy', of course he frolicked and flirted, grew dandified, aquatic, sentimental, or gymnastic, as college fashions ordained, hazed and was hazed, talked slang, and more than once came perilously near suspension and expulsion.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)