What does ordeal mean?
Definitions for ordeal
ɔrˈdil, -ˈdi əl, ˈɔr dilor·deal
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word ordeal.
Princeton's WordNet
ordealnoun
a severe or trying experience
ordeal, trial by ordealnoun
a primitive method of determining a person's guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control; escape was usually taken as a sign of innocence
Wiktionary
ordealnoun
a painful or trying experience
ordealnoun
a trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test (such as ducking in water), divine authority deciding the guilt of the accused
Etymology: From *, ordal, from ordel, ordal, from uzdailaz, equivalent to. Cognate with oardiel, oordeel, Urteil.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
ORDEALnoun
A trial by fire or water, by which the person accused appealed to heaven, by walking blindfold over hot bars of iron; or being thrown, I suppose, into the water; whence the vulgar trial of witches.
Etymology: ordal , Sax. ordalium, low Lat. ordalie, Fr.
Their ordeal laws they used in doubtful cases, when clear proofs wanted. George Hakewill, on Providence.
In the time of king John, the purgation per ignem et aquam, or the trial by ordeal continued; but it ended with this king. Matthew Hale.
ChatGPT
ordeal
An ordeal is a difficult or painful experience, especially one that severely tests a person's character, endurance, or resolution. It can also refer to an ancient method of judgment, where the accused was subjected to some dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Ordeal
or′de-al, n. a dealing out or giving of just judgment: an ancient form of referring a disputed question to the judgment of God, by lot, fire, water, &c.: any severe trial or examination. [A.S. or-dél, or-dál; cf. Dut. oor-deel, Ger. ur-theil.]
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
Ordeal
a test by fire, water, poison, wager of battle, or the like, of the innocence or guilt of persons in appeal thereby to the judgment of God in default of other evidence, on the superstitious belief that by means of it God would interfere to acquit the innocent and condemn the guilty, a test very often had recourse to among savage or half-civilised nations.
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of ordeal in Chaldean Numerology is: 4
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of ordeal in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Examples of ordeal in a Sentence
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama:
As a nation, we are facing an ordeal of the most grievous kind, we must stick together as a people and look after each other.
I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.
The wound on her leg is healing up nicely and she has settled right back into her normal way of life, she lost about ten pounds through the ordeal but other than that, you would never know anything had happened.
We hope the family and friends of Ms. Halbach can find comfort in knowing this ordeal has finally come to a close.
In Samoa, men have elaborate tattoos inked on their thighs, buttocks and lower chest, it is a painful ordeal that requires a man to submit to the authority of the elders. When he emerges, he is celebrated as a hero.
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References
Translations for ordeal
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- محنةArabic
- těžká zkouškaCzech
- Feuerprobe, Gottesurteil, TorturGerman
- δοκιμασία, δεινοπάθημαGreek
- prueba del fuego, calvario, ordalíaSpanish
- امتحان سخت برای اثبات بیگناهایPersian
- koettelemusFinnish
- calvaire, épreuve, ordalieFrench
- ordealIrish
- megpróbáltatás, kálvária, tortúraHungarian
- מִבְחָןHebrew
- 苦杯Japanese
- 시 죄법Korean
- премреже, божји судMacedonian
- ontbering, beproeving, kwellingDutch
- slit, prøvelseNorwegian
- calvárioPortuguese
- chin, calvar, ordalieRomanian
- [[суровый, суд бо́жий, орда́лииRussian
- pärs, gudsdom, prövning, pinaSwedish
- 考验Chinese
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"ordeal." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 9 Jun 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/ordeal>.
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