ordain

verb

or·​dain ȯr-ˈdān How to pronounce ordain (audio)
ordained; ordaining; ordains

transitive verb

1
: to invest (see invest entry 2 sense 1) officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority
was ordained as a priest
2
a
: to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law : enact
we the people … do ordain and establish this ConstitutionU.S. Constitution
b
: destine, foreordain
It is futile to try to avoid what destiny has ordained.

intransitive verb

: to issue an order
so the gods have ordained
ordainer noun
ordainment noun

Examples of ordain in a Sentence

She is an ordained minister. The process was ordained by law.
Recent Examples on the Web Gau was ordained a priest in 1962 at Marquette University's Church of the Gesu and pronounced final vows on Aug. 15, 1965, at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, according to the page. Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2024 According to the Catholic Spirit newspaper, Dempsey grew up in Minneapolis and was ordained in the Twin Cities archdiocese in 1980. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2024 Vocational programs, recreational clubs and a Southern Baptist Bible college that has ordained hundreds of inmates have been credited with reducing the violence. Anat Rubin, ProPublica, 4 Nov. 2023 God, in His providence, ordains some things to come to pass only because people pray for them. Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 4 Feb. 2024 Trump’s renomination and Biden’s reelection campaign were ordained by fate. Noah Rothman, National Review, 22 Jan. 2024 Before my application could be officially registered, The Church of the Latter Day Dude asked for confirmation that the person being ordained was not, in fact, a dog. Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023 The moment, for all its drama, seemed ordained from the instant McCarthy barely won the position. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2023 Over the last decade or so, ethnic identity, at least among the internet literati, has been governed by a certain essentialism that holds that culture is biologically ordained by blood. Jp Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ordain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ordain was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ordain

Cite this Entry

“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordain. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ordain

verb
or·​dain ȯr-ˈdān How to pronounce ordain (audio)
1
: to make a person a Christian minister or priest by a special ceremony
2
a
: decree entry 2
it was ordained by law
b
: destine sense 1
we seem ordained to fail

More from Merriam-Webster on ordain

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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