Word Study
Ordinal
CIDE DICTIONARY
Ordinal, a. [L. ordinalis, fr. ordo, ordinis, order. See Order.].
- Indicating order or succession; as, the ordinal numbers, first, second, third, etc. Contrasted to
cardinal . [1913 Webster] - Of or pertaining to an order. [1913 Webster]
Ordinal, n.
- A word or number denoting order or succession. [1913 Webster]
- The book of forms for making, ordaining, and consecrating bishops, priests, and deacons. [1913 Webster]
- A book containing the rubrics of the Mass. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Ordinal, n. & adj.
--n.
1 (in full ordinal number) a number defining a thing's position in a series, e.g. 'first', 'second', 'third', etc. (cf. CARDINAL).
2 Eccl. a service-book, esp. one with the forms of service used at ordinations.
--adj.
1 a of or relating to an ordinal number. b defining a thing's position in a series etc.
2 Biol. of or concerning an order (see ORDER n. 8).
--n.
1 (in full ordinal number) a number defining a thing's position in a series, e.g. 'first', 'second', 'third', etc. (cf. CARDINAL).
2 Eccl. a service-book, esp. one with the forms of service used at ordinations.
--adj.
1 a of or relating to an ordinal number. b defining a thing's position in a series etc.
2 Biol. of or concerning an order (see ORDER n. 8).
Etymology
ME f. LL ordinalis & med.L ordinale neut. f. L (as ORDER)
THESAURUS
Ordinal
Gaussian integer, Sefer Torah, Torah, Torah scroll, Virginal, algebraic number, algorismic, algorithmic, aliquot, breviary, canon, cardinal, cardinal number, categorical, catenary, characteristic, church book, classificational, classificatory, complex number, consecutive, decimal, defective number, defining, denominative, differential, digital, distinctive, divisional, divisionary, euchologion, euchology, even, even number, exponential, farse, figural, figurate, figurative, finite, finite number, formulary, fraction, fractional, imaginary, imaginary number, impair, impossible, infinite, infinity, integer, integral, irrational, irrational number, lectionary, lineal, linear, litany, logarithmic, logometric, machzor, manual, missal, mixed number, negative, numeral, numerary, numerative, numeric, odd, pair, particular, peculiar, polygonal number, pontifical, positive, possible, prayer book, prime, prime number, progressive, pure imaginary, radical, rational, rational number, real, real number, reciprocal, rectangular number, ritual, rituale, round number, rubric, sequent, sequential, serial, serial number, seriate, service book, siddur, special, specific, subdivisional, submultiple, successional, successive, surd, taxonomic, transcendental, transcendental number, transfinite number, typal, typical, whole numberFor further exploring for "Ordinal" in Webster Dictionary Online