Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense ordains, present participle ordaining, past tense, past participle ordained
1. verb
When someone is ordained, they are made a member of the clergy in a religious ceremony.
He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1982. [beVERB-ed noun]
Women have been ordained for many years in the Church of Scotland. [beVERB-ed]
He ordained his own priests. [VERB noun]
He became a fully ordained monk at the age of 20. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: appoint, call, name, commission More Synonyms of ordain
2. verb
If some authority or power ordains something, they decide that it should happen or be in existence.
[formal]
Nehru ordained that socialism should rule. [VERB that]
His rule was ordained by heaven. [beVERB-ed]
The recession may already be severe enough to ordain structural change. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of ordain
ordain in British English
(ɔːˈdeɪn)
verb(transitive)
1.
to consecrate (someone) as a priest; confer holy orders upon
2. (may take a clause as object)
to decree, appoint, or predestine irrevocably
3. (may take a clause as object)
to order, establish, or enact with authority
4. obsolete
to select for an office
Derived forms
ordainer (orˈdainer)
noun
ordainment (orˈdainment)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Anglo-Norman ordeiner, from Late Latin ordināre, from Latin ordoorder
ordain in American English
(ɔrˈdeɪn)
verb transitive
1. Obsolete
to put in order; arrange; prepare
2.
a.
to decree; order; establish; enact
b.
to predetermine; predestine
3.
to invest with the functions or office of a minister, priest, or rabbi
verb intransitive
4.
to command; decree
Derived forms
ordainer (orˈdainer)
noun
ordainment (orˈdainment)
noun
Word origin
ME ordeinen < OFr ordener < L ordinare, to arrange (in LL(Ec), to ordain as a priest) < L ordo, order
Examples of 'ordain' in a sentence
ordain
London who is also an ordained Church of England clergyman.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He will be taking up his other vocation as an ordained Church of England deacon.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Are the doors to ministry open, particularly when the same requirements are not in place there, but the bishop has already ordained the pastor for ministry?
Christianity Today (2000)
In other languages
ordain
British English: ordain VERB
When someone is ordained, they are made a member of the clergy in a religious ceremony.
He was ordained a Catholic priest last year.
American English: ordain
Brazilian Portuguese: ordenar
Chinese: 任命…为牧师
European Spanish: ordenar
French: ordonner
German: ordinieren
Italian: ordinare
Japanese: 牧師に任命する
Korean: 성직자로 임명되다
European Portuguese: ordenar
Latin American Spanish: ordenar
1 (verb)
Definition
to make (someone) a member of the clergy
Her brother had been ordained as a priest.
Synonyms
appoint
It made sense to appoint a banker to this job.
call
name
The Scots have yet to name their team.
commission
You can commission them to paint something especially for you.
select
elect
The people have voted to elect a new president.
invest
He was invested as a paramount chief of a district tribe.
install
A new Catholic bishop was installed yesterday.
nominate
It is legally possible for an elderly person to nominate someone to act for them.
anoint
consecrate
The church was consecrated in 1234.
frock
2 (verb)
Definition
to decree or order with authority
(formal)
He ordained that they should wear uniform in public.
Synonyms
order
The President has ordered a full investigation.
will
They believed they would reach safety because God had willed it.
rule
The court ruled that laws passed by the assembly remained valid.
demand
She demanded an immediate apology.
require
The rules require employers to provide safety training.
direct
They have been directed to give special attention to poverty.
establish
command
He commanded his troops to attack.
dictate
Circumstances dictated that they played a defensive game.
prescribe
The judge said he was passing the sentence prescribed by law.
pronounce
lay down
decree
He got the two men off the hook by decreeing a general amnesty.
instruct
They have instructed solicitors to sue for compensation.
enact
The bill would be submitted for discussion before being enacted as law.
legislate
You cannot legislate to change attitudes.
enjoin
She enjoined me strictly not to tell anyone else.
3 (verb)
Their destiny was ordained right from the start.
Synonyms
predestine
fate
intend
This money is intended for the development of the tourist industry.
mark out
predetermine
foreordain
destine
preordain
Additional synonyms
in the sense of command
Definition
to order or compel
He commanded his troops to attack.
Synonyms
order,
tell,
charge (formal),
demand,
require,
dictate,
direct,
bid,
compel,
enjoin
in the sense of commission
Definition
to place an order for
You can commission them to paint something especially for you.
Synonyms
appoint,
order,
contract,
select,
engage,
delegate,
nominate,
authorize,
empower,
depute
in the sense of consecrate
Definition
to make or declare sacred or for religious use
The church was consecrated in 1234.
Synonyms
sanctify,
dedicate,
ordain,
exalt,
venerate,
set apart,
hallow,
devote
Nearby words of
ordain
orbit
orchestra
orchestrate
ordain
ordeal
order
order someone about or around
Synonyms of 'ordain'
ordain
Explore 'ordain' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of decree
Definition
to order by decree
He got the two men off the hook by decreeing a general amnesty.
Synonyms
order,
rule,
command,
decide,
demand,
establish,
determine,
proclaim,
dictate,
prescribe,
pronounce,
lay down,
enact,
ordain (formal)
in the sense of demand
Definition
to request forcefully
She demanded an immediate apology.
Synonyms
request,
ask (for),
order,
expect,
claim,
seek,
call for,
insist on,
exact,
appeal for,
solicit
in the sense of destine
Synonyms
fate,
design,
reserve,
purpose,
intend,
appoint,
devote,
doom,
assign,
decree,
earmark,
ordain,
mark out,
allot,
consecrate,
predetermine,
preordain
in the sense of dictate
Circumstances dictated that they played a defensive game.
Synonyms
determine,
demand,
command,
establish,
prescribe,
pronounce,
decree,
ordain (formal)
in the sense of direct
Definition
to give orders with authority to (a person or group)
They have been directed to give special attention to poverty.
Synonyms
order,
command,
instruct,
charge (formal),
demand,
require,
bid,
enjoin,
adjure
in the sense of elect
Definition
to choose (someone) to fill a position by voting for him or her
The people have voted to elect a new president.
Synonyms
vote for,
choose,
pick,
determine,
select,
appoint,
opt for,
designate,
pick out,
settle on,
decide upon
in the sense of enact
Definition
to establish by law
The bill would be submitted for discussion before being enacted as law.
Synonyms
establish,
order,
pass,
command,
approve,
sanction,
proclaim,
decree,
authorize,
ratify,
ordain (formal),
validate,
legislate,
make law
in the sense of enjoin
Definition
to order (someone) to do something
She enjoined me strictly not to tell anyone else.
Synonyms
order,
charge (formal),
warn,
urge,
require,
direct,
bid,
command,
advise,
counsel,
prescribe,
instruct,
call upon
in the sense of install
Definition
to place (a person) formally in a position or rank
A new Catholic bishop was installed yesterday.
Synonyms
institute,
establish,
introduce,
invest,
ordain,
inaugurate,
induct,
instate
in the sense of instruct
Definition
to order to do something
They have instructed solicitors to sue for compensation.
Synonyms
order,
tell,
direct,
charge (formal),
bid,
command,
mandate,
enjoin
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intend
Definition
to design or destine (for a certain purpose or person)
This money is intended for the development of the tourist industry.
Synonyms
destine,
mean,
design,
earmark,
consign,
aim,
mark out,
set apart
in the sense of invest
Definition
to install someone (in an official position)
He was invested as a paramount chief of a district tribe.
Synonyms
install,
establish,
ordain,
crown,
inaugurate,
anoint,
consecrate,
adopt,
induct,
enthrone,
instate
in the sense of legislate
Definition
to bring into effect by legislation
You cannot legislate to change attitudes.
Synonyms
make laws,
establish laws,
prescribe,
enact laws,
pass laws,
ordain (formal),
codify laws,
put laws in force
in the sense of name
Definition
to appoint
The Scots have yet to name their team.
Synonyms
nominate,
choose,
commission,
mention,
identify,
select,
appoint,
specify,
designate
in the sense of nominate
Definition
to appoint (someone) to an office or position
It is legally possible for an elderly person to nominate someone to act for them.
Synonyms
appoint,
name,
choose,
commission,
select,
elect,
assign,
designate,
empower
in the sense of prescribe
Definition
to lay down as a rule
The judge said he was passing the sentence prescribed by law.
Synonyms
ordain (formal),
set,
order,
establish,
rule,
require,
fix,
recommend,
impose,
appoint,
command,
define,
dictate,
assign,
lay down,
decree,
stipulate,
enjoin
in the sense of require
Definition
to insist upon
The rules require employers to provide safety training.
Synonyms
order,
demand,
direct,
command,
compel,
exact,
oblige,
instruct,
call upon,
constrain,
insist upon
in the sense of rule
Definition
to decide authoritatively
The court ruled that laws passed by the assembly remained valid.
Synonyms
decree,
find,
decide,
judge,
establish,
determine,
settle,
resolve,
pronounce,
lay down,
adjudge
in the sense of will
Definition
to try to make (something) happen by wishing very hard for it
They believed they would reach safety because God had willed it.