ordain

Ordain is a verb with several related meanings centered on authority and appointment. In religious contexts, it most often means to confer the authority to perform sacred functions, such as ordaining priests, ministers, or other clergy. In secular use, ordain can mean to appoint someone to an office or to decree something by law or command, though the latter sense is less common in modern everyday language.

Etymology and sense: The word derives from the Latin ordinare, meaning “to set in order, arrange,” from ordo, “order.” Through Old French, it entered English with the sense of placing someone in a rank or office and, in religious usage, the grant of holy powers or responsibilities.

Religious ordination: In many Christian traditions, ordination is the formal rite by which a person is set apart for a particular ministry. It commonly involves a consecratory prayer and the laying on of hands by existing clergy, symbolizing the transmission of spiritual authority. The specific requirements, the number of orders (for example, deacon, priest, bishop), and the theological significance vary among denominations. Catholic and Orthodox churches treat ordination as a sacrament or sacramental act essential for valid ministry, while many Protestant churches view ordination as a recognition of calling and gifting rather than a sacramental reception of power.

Secular and legal usage: In historical or ceremonial language, rulers or legislatures might use ordination to mean the enactment or commissioning of laws, offices, or ceremonial roles. In modern governance, terms like appointment, designation, or enactment are more common, though ordain may appear in formal or literary contexts.

See also: ordination, investiture, consecration.