Ordain
verb
To officially make someone a priest or other religious leader.
The bishop ordained him as a priest last Sunday.
Often appears as...
- ordain as priest
- ordain deacons
Usage tips
Formal
Religious
verb
To decide or establish something officially.
The rules of the contest were ordained by the panel of judges.
Often appears as...
- ordain rules
- ordain law
verb
To make something happen or be established by God or fate.
Many believers hold that our futures are ordained by divine will.
Often appears as...
- ordain future
- ordain by god
Usage tips
Religious, Philosophical
verb
To officially make someone a priest or other religious leader.
The bishop ordained him as a priest last Sunday.
Often appears as...
- ordain as priest
- ordain deacons
Usage tips
Formal
Religious
verb
To decide or establish something officially.
The rules of the contest were ordained by the panel of judges.
Often appears as...
- ordain rules
- ordain law
verb
To make something happen or be established by God or fate.
Many believers hold that our futures are ordained by divine will.
Often appears as...
- ordain future
- ordain by god
Usage tips
Religious, Philosophical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Religious Ceremony
Used for a sacred ritual in Christianity to appoint someone to a clergy role.
Sarah was ordained a minister in a beautiful ceremony.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Achievement
Being ordained is a significant milestone in the life of someone religious.
After years of study, he was finally ordained.
Pro Tip 3/3Church Authority
Only certain religious authorities, like bishops, have the power to ordain.
The church council agreed to ordain two new priests.
Pro Tip 1/3Religious Ceremony
Used for a sacred ritual in Christianity to appoint someone to a clergy role.
Sarah was ordained a minister in a beautiful ceremony.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Achievement
Being ordained is a significant milestone in the life of someone religious.
After years of study, he was finally ordained.
Pro Tip 3/3Church Authority
Only certain religious authorities, like bishops, have the power to ordain.
The church council agreed to ordain two new priests.
Pro Tip 1/3Religious Ceremony
Used for a sacred ritual in Christianity to appoint someone to a clergy role.
Sarah was ordained a minister in a beautiful ceremony.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Achievement
Being ordained is a significant milestone in the life of someone religious.
After years of study, he was finally ordained.
Pro Tip 3/3Church Authority
Only certain religious authorities, like bishops, have the power to ordain.
The church council agreed to ordain two new priests.
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Video examples
Growing Up Transgender...
everything's fine in in our church in the lds church she was ordained to the priesthood and was the first assistant to the bishop and so she was you know very involved and so i came home one day because she hadn't shown up at church and she was still in bed and i came in and i said hey what's the deal
Video examples
To the Moon and Not...
would be stranded on the moon still alive but we would know they would ultimately die these words were written for President Nixon and he never had to read them but they exist and they're in his presidential archive fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on
Video examples
The political power of...
And then a priest came by, saw the man on the side of the road, maybe said a silent prayer, hopes and prayers, prayers that he gets better. Maybe saw the man on the side of the road and surmised that it was ordained by God for this particular man, this particular group
Video examples
Our failing schools....
schools were open or year open whole year because there are a lot of folks who had to work all day to have any place where their kids to go with a perfect place to have schools so this is not something that is ordained from the education God's so why don't we well
Video examples
Artemisia Gentileschi:...
The composition is similar to that of her first painting from 1613, but has meaningful details for those who look closely. The sword more directly resembles a crucifix, heightening the sense that Judith's vengeance was a holy act ordained by God.
Video examples
Our failing schools....
because we had a lot of folks who had to work all day. They didn't have any place for their kids to go. It was a perfect place to have schools. So this is not something that is ordained from the education gods. So why don't we? Why don't we?
Video examples
Adam Nicolson: The King...
fingers the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained what is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest him for thou has made him a little lower than the Angels and has crowned him with glory and honour
Video examples
In search for the man...
and so God had ordained the crash, but now, he said, he was religious, and God was pleased. It was then that God news on the TV of a car wreck that hours before had killed three people up north. We looked up at the wreckage.
Video examples
The origins of ballet -...
cemented the central role ballet would play during his reign. It also earned him the title of Sun King, with his splendid golden costume and choreography that promoted the idea of the king as a divinely ordained ruler.
Video examples
Looking at Nat Turner's...
I was ordained for some great purpose in the hands of the Almighty nat turner was an enslaved African
Video examples
Growing Up Transgender...
everything's fine in in our church in the lds church she was ordained to the priesthood and was the first assistant to the bishop and so she was you know very involved and so i came home one day because she hadn't shown up at church and she was still in bed and i came in and i said hey what's the deal
Video examples
To the Moon and Not...
would be stranded on the moon still alive but we would know they would ultimately die these words were written for President Nixon and he never had to read them but they exist and they're in his presidential archive fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on
Video examples
The political power of...
And then a priest came by, saw the man on the side of the road, maybe said a silent prayer, hopes and prayers, prayers that he gets better. Maybe saw the man on the side of the road and surmised that it was ordained by God for this particular man, this particular group
Video examples
Our failing schools....
schools were open or year open whole year because there are a lot of folks who had to work all day to have any place where their kids to go with a perfect place to have schools so this is not something that is ordained from the education God's so why don't we well
Video examples
Artemisia Gentileschi:...
The composition is similar to that of her first painting from 1613, but has meaningful details for those who look closely. The sword more directly resembles a crucifix, heightening the sense that Judith's vengeance was a holy act ordained by God.
Video examples
Our failing schools....
because we had a lot of folks who had to work all day. They didn't have any place for their kids to go. It was a perfect place to have schools. So this is not something that is ordained from the education gods. So why don't we? Why don't we?
Video examples
Adam Nicolson: The King...
fingers the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained what is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest him for thou has made him a little lower than the Angels and has crowned him with glory and honour
Video examples
In search for the man...
and so God had ordained the crash, but now, he said, he was religious, and God was pleased. It was then that God news on the TV of a car wreck that hours before had killed three people up north. We looked up at the wreckage.
Video examples
The origins of ballet -...
cemented the central role ballet would play during his reign. It also earned him the title of Sun King, with his splendid golden costume and choreography that promoted the idea of the king as a divinely ordained ruler.
Video examples
Looking at Nat Turner's...
I was ordained for some great purpose in the hands of the Almighty nat turner was an enslaved African
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
John Wycliffe
English Theologian
Two places are ordained for man to dwell in after this life. While he is here, he may choose, by God's mercy, which he will; but once he is gone from here, he may not do so. For whichever he first goes to, whether he like it well or ill, there he must dwell forevermore. He shall never after change his dwelling, though he hates it ever so badly.
Quote examples
John Adams
American President
The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.
Quote examples
Joseph Smith, Jr.
American Clergyman
Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council.
Quote examples
Eavan Boland
Irish Poet
If a poet does not tell the truth about time, his or her work will not survive it. Past or present, there is a human dimension to time, human voices within it, and human griefs ordained by it.
Quote examples
Gary Numan
British Musician
If I thought that any of this was pre ordained, then it takes away any kind of incentive to struggle, or to put up with things, to reach for those impossible dreams, all those dramatic things.
Quote examples
Marcus Aurelius
Roman Leader
Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.
Quote examples
Jack Welch
American Businessman
We've only been wealthy in this country for 70 years. Who said we ought to have all this? Is it ordained?
Quote examples
Orson Pratt
American Theologian
I was ordained one of the standing High Council in Zion, under the hands of President Joseph Smith.
Quote examples
Euripides
Greek Poet
God hates violence. He has ordained that all men fairly possess their property, not seize it.
Quote examples
Tori Spelling
American Actress
I am now officially ordained. Yep, that's right - Reverend Tori Spelling!
Quote examples
John Wycliffe
English Theologian
Two places are ordained for man to dwell in after this life. While he is here, he may choose, by God's mercy, which he will; but once he is gone from here, he may not do so. For whichever he first goes to, whether he like it well or ill, there he must dwell forevermore. He shall never after change his dwelling, though he hates it ever so badly.
Quote examples
John Adams
American President
The Hebrews have done more to civilize men than any other nation. If I were an atheist, and believed blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations.
Quote examples
Joseph Smith, Jr.
American Clergyman
Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council.
Quote examples
Eavan Boland
Irish Poet
If a poet does not tell the truth about time, his or her work will not survive it. Past or present, there is a human dimension to time, human voices within it, and human griefs ordained by it.
Quote examples
Gary Numan
British Musician
If I thought that any of this was pre ordained, then it takes away any kind of incentive to struggle, or to put up with things, to reach for those impossible dreams, all those dramatic things.
Quote examples
Marcus Aurelius
Roman Leader
Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live.
Quote examples
Jack Welch
American Businessman
We've only been wealthy in this country for 70 years. Who said we ought to have all this? Is it ordained?
Quote examples
Orson Pratt
American Theologian
I was ordained one of the standing High Council in Zion, under the hands of President Joseph Smith.
Quote examples
Euripides
Greek Poet
God hates violence. He has ordained that all men fairly possess their property, not seize it.
Quote examples
Tori Spelling
American Actress
I am now officially ordained. Yep, that's right - Reverend Tori Spelling!
Example 1 of 10
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