ordain Hear it!

ordain Definition

or·dain (ôr dān)

transitive verb

  1. Obsolete to put in order; arrange; prepare
    1. to decree; order; establish; enact
    2. to predetermine; predestine
  2. to invest with the functions or office of a minister, priest, or rabbi

Etymology: ME ordeinen < OFr ordener < L ordinare, to arrange (in LL(Ec), to ordain as a priest) < L ordo, order

intransitive verb

to command; decree

ordain Related Forms
or·dainer noun or·dain·ment noun
ordain Synonyms

ordain

v.

  1. To establish

    install, institute, appoint; see enact.

  2. To destine

    determine, foreordain, intend; see predetermine.

  3. To invest with priestly functions

    install, confer holy orders upon, consecrate, anoint, frock, delegate, invest; see also bless 3.

ordain Usage Examples

Object

  • deacon: Also ordained deacon on Sunday 2nd July, the Revd.
  • priest: He was ordained priest on the 16th of May 1818.
  • ministry: I have been in full time ordained ministry in the Church of England for nearly two years.
  • minister: He is an ordained minister of the gospel of Christ.
  • clergy: The Church of Ireland Catalyst group issued the call in a letter, reported to be signed by 160 ordained clergy.
  • bishop: Bishop Dominic reveals: When I was ordained a bishop, one of the senior bishops advised me not to wear an empty cross.

Subject

  • bishop: Those who have been clergy may, if suitable, be ordained by the Catholic bishop.

Preposition: as

  • deacon: Born in Durham 49 years ago, Myrtle Poxon went to theological college aged 20 before being ordained as a deacon.
  • priest: He became a deacon at just 19 and was ordained as a priest at the age of 30.
  • monk: I ordained as a monk on December 6, 1986 at 3:00 p.m. , as close as I can judge it.
  • minister: He worked as a lawyer in Memphis before being ordained as a Baptist minister.

Modifying Another Word

  • divinely: We give up the notion of a divinely ordained hierarchical universe that we just slot into.
  • newly: Curate Training A program of training is offered to the newly ordained in the diocese.
  • before: They thought that church was sissy and not for them long before ordained women were even a twinkle in Synod's eye.
  • properly: In San Jose, diocese officials warned that a woman priest there was not properly ordained.
  • recently: Jessica Martin is College Lecturer and Director of Studies in English, and was recently ordained a deacon.
  • fully: A successful scholar, Witherspoon entered university at only fourteen and became a fully ordained minister at twenty.

Infinitive complement

  • serve: The majority are Anglicans and on completion of their academic study in June they will be ordained to serve as deacons in their churches.

Preposition: in

  • diocese: Curate Training A program of training is offered to the newly ordained in the diocese.

Preposition: by

  • bishop: Those who have been clergy may, if suitable, be ordained by the Catholic bishop.

Browse dictionary entries near ordain

  1. ord
  2. Orcus
  3. orcinol
  4. orchis
  5. orchil
  6. orchiectomy
  7. orchidotomy
  8. orchidology
  9. orchido-
  10. orchid
  1. ordained
  2. ordeal
  3. order
  4. order arms
  5. order imbalance
  6. Order of the Garter
  7. order to show cause
  8. ordered
  9. ordering
  10. orderly