ordain
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.or·dain
verb \ȯr-ˈdān\Definition of ORDAIN
transitive verb
1
: to invest officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority
2
a : to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law : enact <we the people … do ordain and establish this Constitution — United States Constitution> b : destine, foreordain
intransitive verb
: to issue an order
— or·dain·er noun
— or·dain·ment \-ˈdān-mənt\ noun
See Examples of ORDAIN
- She is an ordained minister.
- The process was ordained by law.
Origin of ORDAIN
Middle English ordeinen, from Anglo-French ordener, ordeiner, from Late Latin ordinare, from Latin, to put in order, appoint, from ordin-, ordo order
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to ORDAIN
- Synonyms
- doom, fate, foredoom, foreordain, destine, predestine, predetermine, preordain
Other Christian Religious Terms
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