ordain

verb or·dain \ ȯr-ˈdān \

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

2 a :to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law :enact

we the people … do ordain and establish this Constitution
—U.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

play \ȯr-ˈdān-mənt\ noun

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Examples of ordain in a Sentence

She is an ordained minister.
The process was ordained by law.

Recent Examples of ordain from the Web

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.

— SI.com, "Former Manchester United Midfielder Gets Officially Ordained a Roman Catholic Priest," 19 July 2017
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.

— dwight adams, Indianapolis Star, "An Indy-based church of diversity elects first black woman to lead a major denomination," 13 July 2017
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.

— karen farkas, cleveland.com, "Bishop Nelson J. Perez's shield includes personal and professional touches," 11 July 2017
BEHIND THE SCENES Officiant: Friend of the bride Lela Tutka, who happens to be ordained.

— kellie patrick gates, Philly.com, "Weddings: Kate Goldenberg and Rich Hackett," 30 June 2017
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.

— feliz solomon / bangkok, Time, "Unlocked for 1 Week Only!," 29 June 2017
In December, the council approved the design for the street, including a portion of the road ordained with overhead festoon lights.

— ryan gillespie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Maitland moves forward in reshaping downtown," 27 June 2017
Three years later he was ordained to priesthood at Augustinian College.

— adia h. robinson, Philly.com, "Father Joseph Xavier O'Connor, 89, Augustinian priest," 21 June 2017
A biologist who lectures at the University of Mississippi, Stratton was ordained on campus in 2016 in front of more than 200 people.

— julie compton, NBC News, "#Pride30: Lesbian Minister Preaches Acceptance in Deep South," 19 June 2017

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

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