Definitions for ordeal
ɔrˈdil, -ˈdi əl, ˈɔr dilor·deal

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. ordealnoun

   a severe or trying experience

2. 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

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. ordealnoun

   a painful or trying experience

2. 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

3. Etymology: From *, ordal, from ordel, ordal, from uzdailaz, equivalent to. Cognate with oardiel, oordeel, Urteil.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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 EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. 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.

Matched Categories

1. • Experience
   • Trial

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for ordeal »

1. reload

2. Laredo

3. loader

How to pronounce ordeal?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say ordeal in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of ordeal in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of ordeal in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of ordeal in a Sentence

1. United States:

   Then came Rio Olympics. United States ' Missy Franklin had never been through anything like Rio Olympics before. There were plenty of tears, even as United States ' Missy Franklin tried to maintain United States ' Missy Franklin smiling, upbeat facade. It was brutal, United States ' Missy Franklin recalled. You are literally on the biggest stage in the world and falling short of every single goal youve set for yourself. You truly feel like youre embarrassing yourself. Yet, that was when United States ' Missy Franklin found something deep inside, something United States ' Missy Franklin always hoped was there but wouldnt really know until she went through such a trying ordeal. Its really easy to inspire people in success and when youre doing well. Its really hard to inspire people when youre failing, when youre falling on your butt, now I have to show up and be that person I always said I wanted to be in a situation like this. While this has been a solitary journey in many ways, Franklins husband has helped greatly in easing the transition from competitive swimming. When his wife-to-be was contemplating whether to have another surgery, he pointed out that there were far more important things still to come, that had nothing to do with being a star athlete. Theres always going to be a part of me thats still working through it, still reflecting and seeing what else I can take away from it.

2. Mauricio Henao:

   I’m pretty shook up, honestly, I don’t think I’ll park here again after this. I’m a little traumatized by this whole ordeal.

3. Sheriff Troy Nehls:

   This is the worst kind of crime against a family, three crooks forcing their way into a home in the middle of the night is appalling. To make matters worse, they accosted a 7-year-old child. They’re cowards, to say the least. Nehls said the boy was transported to Texas Medical Center and was being treated for having some fluids in his lungs. MASKED MEN TERRORIZE TEXAS FAMILY, BURN CHILD WITH HOT WATER DURING HOME INVASION, OFFICIALS SAY Our staff is aggressively working this case. My prayers are with the family, he said on Twitter. The three men left with cash, jewelry and also took the family's phones after the hour-long ordeal, according to police. Authorities plan to release images from surveillance cameras near the home during a press conference on Tuesday. While police have not identified the victims, Mohamad Ghiritold KPRCon Monday he thought his brother was just late for work but finally in person was able to see the horror his face and description of the terrifying incident.

4. Doug Jehl:

   Ali Rezaian wasn't sure until the plane took off that it was the end of Ali Rezaian ordeal.

5. Shari Redstone:

   I am grateful to the court for putting an end to this long ordeal?, i am so happy for my father that he can now live his life in peace, surrounded by his friends and family.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=ordeal
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ordeal
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=ordeal
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=ordeal
6. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Ordeal
7. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=ordeal