ordain
gb/ɔɹdˈeɪn/ us/ɔɹdˈeɪn/
B2
English
~ 9600
felszentel, elrendel, előír, kimond, predesztinál
VERB
B2
1
felszentel
B2
Usage pattern:
to ordain [someone] (as) [a religious role]
She was ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church last year.
Tavaly szentelték pappá az anglikán egyházban.
After completing the seminary program, he hoped to be ordained by the end of the summer.
A szemináriumi képzés elvégzése után remélte, hogy a nyár végéig felszentelik.
The bishop will ordain three new ministers during Sunday's service.
In some denominations, women are not permitted to be ordained.
He felt called to serve and decided to seek ordination so he could be officially ordained.
Learner examples
My friend was ordained as a pastor in June.
A barátomat júniusban szentelték fel lelkipásztornak.
The church plans to ordain five new priests this year.
Az egyház azt tervezi, hogy idén öt új papot szentel fel.
He studied for many years before he was finally ordained.
Only the bishop can ordain new priests in that church.
She wants to be ordained and work as a minister.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "ordain" with "organize" or "plan" (e.g., *"They ordained the wedding"*). "Ordain" is used for officially making someone a religious leader, not for arranging events. It is also different from simply "hire" or "appoint" someone to a non-religious job.
Meaning
make someone a priest or minister
Collocations
ordain [someone] (as) a priest
|ordain [someone] (as) a minister
|be ordained (as) a priest
|be ordained (as) a pastor
|ordained clergy
Synonyms
consecrate (More formal and liturgical; can also mean to make something holy, not only to appoint a religious leader.)
Antonyms
defrock (Means to remove someone's status as a priest or minister, the opposite of giving them that role.)
Themes
religion
|society
Definition
To give someone the official job of priest or religious leader in a church, usually in a special ceremony.
To officially make someone a priest, minister, or other religious leader through a special ceremony.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to ordain that [clause]
The new constitution ordains that all citizens have equal rights before the law.
Az új alkotmány kimondja, hogy minden állampolgárnak egyenlő jogai vannak a törvény előtt.
The council ordained that no building could exceed six stories in height.
A tanács elrendelte, hogy egyetlen épület sem lehet hat emeletnél magasabb.
The statute clearly ordains that employers must provide safe working conditions.
It was ordained by royal charter that the college would educate poor scholars.
The regulations, as now ordained, will come into force next year.
Learner examples
The law ordains that children must go to school.
A törvény előírja, hogy a gyerekeknek iskolába kell járniuk.
The king ordained that all taxes would be lower.
A király elrendelte, hogy minden adót csökkentsenek.
Their rules ordain that members must pay a fee every year.
The document ordains that the group meets once a month.
The city council ordained that smoking is not allowed in restaurants.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use "ordain" in everyday contexts where "order" or "tell" is normal (e.g., *"My boss ordained me to stay late"*). In modern English, "ordain" in this sense is mostly used in legal, constitutional, or very formal writing and almost never in casual speech for simple instructions.
Meaning
order or decide by law
Collocations
ordain that
|as the law ordains
|the constitution ordains
|be hereby ordained
|ordain and establish
Synonyms
decree (Very close in meaning; commonly used for official statements by a ruler or government, and slightly more common in modern legal and news language.)
Antonyms
repeal (Means to officially cancel a law or rule, which is the opposite of ordering or establishing it.)
Themes
law
|government
|society
|politics
Definition
To say in an official and legal way that something must happen or be done.
To officially order, decide, or establish something by law or by someone with formal authority.
VERB
C1
LITERARY
3
elrendel
C1
predesztinál
C2
Usage pattern:
to be ordained (by [God/fate]) that [clause]
It seemed as if their meeting had been ordained by fate.
Úgy tűnt, mintha a sors rendelte volna el a találkozásukat.
History had ordained that the two nations would one day collide.
A történelem úgy rendelte, hogy a két nemzet egy napon összecsapjon.
For reasons no one understood, it was ordained that she would lead the movement.
They believed God had ordained their suffering for a higher purpose.
As events unfolded, everything happened just as he had thought it was ordained to be.
Learner examples
Some people think their life is ordained by God.
Vannak, akik úgy gondolják, hogy Isten rendelte el az életüket.
In the story, it is ordained that the hero must die.
A történetben úgy van elrendelve, hogy a hősnek meg kell halnia.
He felt it was ordained that they would meet again.
They say it was ordained by fate that she became a leader.
The writer suggests that war was almost ordained by history.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with simply "decide" or "plan" in normal situations. "Ordain" in this meaning is used when talking about fate, God, or a grand, fixed plan for the future. It is not used for everyday choices like *"I ordained to eat early"*, where "decided" is correct.
Meaning
decide something as fate or God
Collocations
as fate ordained
|as God has ordained
|ordained by fate
|ordained by God
|it was ordained that
Synonyms
destine (Also suggests a fixed future, often with a strong emotional or narrative tone; "ordain" sounds more religious or solemn.)
Antonyms
prevent (If something is ordained, it cannot be stopped; to prevent something is to stop it from happening.)
Themes
religion
|philosophy
|literature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To decide or fix what will happen, as if a god or fate makes the decision.
To determine or arrange that something will happen in a particular way, especially as if decided by God or fate.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ordain
IPA
GB/ɔɹdˈeɪn/
US/ɔɹdˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
or - dain (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dain)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: ordain
- 3rd Person Singular: ordains
- Present Participle: ordaining
- Past: ordained
Word family
Forms
ordains
verb
ordaining
verb
ordained
verb
Core family
ordination
noun
Advanced or less common
preordain
verb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.