Definitions for: Ordain


[v] issue an order
[v] appoint to a clerical posts; "he was ordained in the Church"
[v] invest with ministerial or priestly authority; "The minister was ordained only last month"
[v] authorize as a rabbi; "Our rabbi was ordained in Spain"
[v] order by virtue of superior authority; decree; "The King ordained the persecution and expulsion of the Jews"



Webster (1913) Definition: Or*dain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ordained; p. pr. & vb.
n. Ordaining.] [OE. ordeinen, OF. ordener, F. ordonner, fr.
L. ordinare, from ordo, ordinis, order. See Order, and cf.
Ordinance.]
1. To set in order; to arrange according to rule; to
regulate; to set; to establish. ``Battle well ordained.''
--Spenser.

The stake that shall be ordained on either side.
--Chaucer.

2. To regulate, or establish, by appointment, decree, or law;
to constitute; to decree; to appoint; to institute.

Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month. --1
Kings xii. 32.

And doth the power that man adores ordain Their doom
? --Byron.

3. To set apart for an office; to appoint.

Being ordained his special governor. --Shak.

4. (Eccl.) To invest with ministerial or sacerdotal
functions; to introduce into the office of the Christian
ministry, by the laying on of hands, or other forms; to
set apart by the ceremony of ordination.

Meletius was ordained by Arian bishops. --Bp.
Stillingfleet.

Synonyms: consecrate, enact, order, ordinate

See Also: decree, decree, designate, destine, doom, enthrone, fate, invest, legislate, pass, predestine, reenact, vest, will

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