ordain — to officially make someone a priest or religious minister
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to officially make someone a priest or religious minister
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɔːrˈdeɪn/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother always said fate ordained that we would meet at the coffee shop where we both spilled our drinks.
- The school rules ordain that students must wear matching socks, which is oddly specific.
- She was ordained as a minister after years of theological study.
ordain
VERB[/ɔːrˈdeɪn/]
to officially make someone a priest or religious minister

The bishop solemnly ordains the young priest in the cathedral.

Through the rain and pain, he's ordained to gain!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin 'ordinare', meaning originally 'to set in order' or 'to arrange in a line'. The word acquired religious significance in medieval times, when the Church adopted it to describe the systematic process of appointing clergy to sacred office.
Breakdown
ordin- (order, arrangement) + -are (Latin infinitive verb ending), literally 'to put in order'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother always said fate ordained that we would meet at the coffee shop where we both spilled our drinks.”
“The school rules ordain that students must wear matching socks, which is oddly specific.”
“She was ordained as a minister after years of theological study.”
“The constitution ordains the separation of powers in government.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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