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# ordain

verb (ordain, ordains, ordained, ordaining)

«ordain» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (church) To ordain someone is to make them a priest, minister or rabbi in a special religious ceremony. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#m1)
2. (formal) To ordain something is to order or decide it officially, as a king or law does. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#m2)
3. (formal) To decide what will happen, as if by God or fate: «It was ordained that they would meet». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#m3)

### In the lessons

In religious education a bishop ordains new priests; some churches ordain women and some do not. In old stories and formal writing a king may ordain a new law. Phrases: «be ordained a priest», «ordained minister», «divinely ordained».

### Examples

- The bishop ordained three new priests. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#x1)
- My uncle was ordained a minister last summer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#x2)
- Some churches ordain women as priests. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#x3)
- The king ordained that a feast be held. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#x4)
- The ceremony to ordain a priest is called ordination. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#x5)
- She felt it was ordained that she would become a nurse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#x6)
- An ordained minister can lead a wedding service. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb, past «ordained». Noun: ordination. Formal word. Related: order, ordinance (a law).

## In Jewish tradition

In Chronicles, David and Samuel set the gatekeepers and singers in their holy tasks in the Temple service.

**Interpretation.** Tradition sees Temple music and guarding as real service to God, given to the Levites. Later, rabbis were "ordained" (semikhah) by laying on of hands in a chain going back to Moses.

### Examples

- These were reckoned by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office. (Writings 1CH.9.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/ordain/#x1)
- Then on that day did David first ordain to give thanks unto the LORD, by the hand of Asaph and his brethren. (Writings 1CH.16.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/ordain/#x2)

### Note

Regular verb, past «ordained». Noun: ordination. Formal word. Related: order, ordinance (a law).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «ordain» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/ordain/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«ordain» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ordain.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «ordain» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/O/ordain/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«ordain» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/ordain.html) on Mova free.