Ordainings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Acts of officially investing someone with religious authority ; decrees or orders formally issued, especially with governing power
2. Formal bestowals of clerical roles ; authoritative commands or proclamations made with official power
3. Ceremonies conferring ministerial office ; official rulings or authoritative instructions enacted by those in charge

Etymology: The root of this word lies in the verb "ordain," which entered English around the late Middle Ages, roughly the 14th century. "Ordain" itself comes from the Old French "ordainer," meaning to arrange, put in order, or decree. This French term traces back to the Latin "ordinare," which means to set in order or appoint. The connection to "order" is clear throughout, as the Latin root "ordo" signifies a row, rank, or arrangement. "Ordain" originally carried a strong sense of formal arrangement or appointment, especially in religious contexts where it referred to the official conferring of holy orders upon clergy. Over time, its use expanded beyond strictly ecclesiastical settings to mean any formal decree or authoritative decision. The suffix "-ing" added to "ordain" forms a gerund or present participle, indicating the action or process of ordaining. When pluralized as in the form you provided, it refers to multiple instances or acts of ordaining. This plural form is somewhat rare and would typically appear in contexts discussing several formal appointments or decrees, often within religious or legal frameworks. Though straightforward in its components and meaning, the word embodies a long tradition of ordering, appointing, and formalizing roles within society, especially in spiritual hierarchies. The evolution from Latin to Old French and then into English reflects the path of many ecclesiastical and legal terms shaped by centuries of institutional authority.

Synonyms: consecrations, investitures, installations, appointments, ceremonies