Definition of ordain
transitive verb
1 : to invest (see 1invest 1) officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority was ordained as a priest
2a : to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law : enact we the people … do ordain and establish this Constitution — U.S. Constitutionb : 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
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of ordain in a Sentence
She is an ordained minister.
The process was ordained by law.
Recent Examples of ordain from the Web
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However, the man who was once earning £600k-a-year has now taken a vow of poverty after being ordained as Fr Mulryne in Dublin on Saturday.
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In April, the Episcopal Church ordained the Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows as the 11th bishop of Indianapolis, the first black woman to lead an Episcopal diocese.
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Saint Agnes is the patroness of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, for which Bishop Perez is being ordained an auxiliary bishop, and a lamb's head, painted gold, appears on the arms of the Diocese.
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BEHIND THE SCENES Officiant: Friend of the bride Lela Tutka, who happens to be ordained.
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When the palace allowed him to come back three years later — ostensibly to be ordained as a Buddhist monk but likely recalled by the government to help stem the spread of communism from Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam — the movement reconvened.
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In December, the council approved the design for the street, including a portion of the road ordained with overhead festoon lights.
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Three years later he was ordained to priesthood at Augustinian College.
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A biologist who lectures at the University of Mississippi, Stratton was ordained on campus in 2016 in front of more than 200 people.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ordain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology 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
Other Christian Religious Terms
ORDAIN Defined for English Language Learners
ordain
playDefinition of ordain for English Language Learners
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: to officially make (someone) a minister, priest, rabbi, etc.
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: to officially establish or order (something)
ORDAIN Defined for Kids
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ordain Spanish Central: Translation of ordain Nglish: Translation of ordain for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ordain for Arabic speakers
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