ordain

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: or=dain
• COUNT in NET: 1 in 1 verses (in OT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

ordain, v. t. [OE. ordeinen, OF. ordener, F. ordonner, fr. L. ordinare, from ordo, ordinis, order. See Order, and cf. Ordinance.].

•  To set in order; to arrange according to rule; to regulate; to set; to establish.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

  "The stake that shall be ordained on either side."  [1913 Webster]
•  To regulate, or establish, by appointment, decree, or law; to constitute; to decree; to appoint; to institute.  [1913 Webster]

  "Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month."  [1913 Webster]

  "And doth the power that man adores ordain
  Their doom ?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To set apart for an office; to appoint.  [1913 Webster]

  "Being ordained his special governor."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Meletius was ordained by Arian bishops."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

ordain, v.tr.
1 confer holy orders on; appoint to the Christian ministry (ordained him priest; was ordained in 1970).
2 a (often foll. by that + clause) decree (ordained that he should go). b (of God, fate, etc.) destine; appoint (has ordained us to die).

Derivative

ordainer n. ordainment n.

Etymology

ME f. AF ordeiner, OF ordein- stressed stem of ordener f. L ordinare f. ordo -inis order

THESAURUS

ordain

allocate, allot, appoint, appropriate to, assign, assign to, authorize, bid, call on, call the signals, call upon, canonize, carry on, charge, command, commission, consecrate, constitute, declare, declare lawful, decree, designate, destinate, destine, detail, devote, dictate, direct, doom, earmark, enact, enact laws, enjoin, enlist, enroll, establish, fate, filibuster, foredoom, formulate, frock, get the floor, give an order, give the word, have the floor, impose, inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, instate, instruct, invest, issue a command, issue a writ, keep, kill, lay down, legalize, legislate, legitimate, legitimatize, legitimize, lobby through, logroll, lot, make a regulation, make assignments, make legal, manage, mandate, mark, mark off, mark out for, name, nominate, operate, order, order about, ordinate, pass, pigeonhole, pocket, portion off, prescribe, proclaim, promulgate, pronounce, put in force, put through, railroad through, regulate, reserve, restrict, restrict to, roll logs, rule, run, saint, sanction, say the word, schedule, select, set, set apart, set aside, set off, sign on, sign up, tab, table, tag, take the floor, validate, veto, yield the floor

ROGET THESAURUS

ordain

Command

VB command, order, decree, enact, ordain, dictate, direct, give orders, prescribe, set, appoint, mark out, set a task, prescribe a task, impose a task, set to work, put in requisition, bid, enjoin, charge, call upon, instruct, require at the hands of, exact, impose, tax, task, demand, insist on, claim, lay claim to, revendicate, reclaim, cite, summon, call for, send for, subpoena, beckon, issue a command, make a requisition, issue a requisition, promulgate a requisition, make a decree, issue a decree, promulgate a decree, make an order, issue an order, promulgate an order, give the word of command, give the word, give the signal, call to order, give the law, lay down the law, assume the command, remand, be ordered, receive an order.

Commission

VB commission, delegate, depute, consign, assign, charge, intrust, entrust, commit, commit to the hands of, authorize, put in commission, accredit, engage, hire, bespeak, appoint, name, nominate, return, ordain, install, induct, inaugurate, swear in, invest, crown, enroll, enlist, give power of attorney to, employ, empower, set over, place over, send out, be commissioned, be accredited, represent, stand for, stand in the stead of, stand in the place of, stand in the shoes of.

Legality

VB legalize, enact, ordain, decree, pass a law, enact a regulation, legislate, codify, formulate, regulate.

Deity

VB create, move, uphold, preserve, govern, atone, redeem, save, propitiate, mediate, predestinate, elect, call, ordain, bless, justify, sanctify, glorify Adj, almighty, holy, hallowed, sacred, divine, heavenly, celestial, sacrosanct, all-knowing, all-seeing, all-wise, omniscient, superhuman, supernatural, ghostly, spiritual, hyperphysical, unearthly, theistic, theocratic, anointed, soterial.

Churchdom

VB call, ordain, induct, prefer, translate, consecrate, present, take orders, take the tonsure, take the veil, take vows.

Dueness

VB be due, to, be the due, of, have right to, have title to, have claim to, be entitled to, have a claim upon, belong to, deserve, merit, be worthy of, richly deserve, demand, claim, call upon for, come upon for, appeal to for, revendicate, reclaim, exact, insist on, insist upon, challenge, take one's stand, make a point of, require, lay claim to, assert, assume, arrogate, make good, substantiate, vindicate a claim, vindicate a right, fit for, qualify for, make out a case, give a right, confer a right, entitle, authorize, sanctify, legalize, ordain, prescribe, allot, give every one his due, pay one's dues, have one's due, have one's rights, use a right, assert, enforce, put in force, lay under contribution.