Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sacrament in certain Christian churches: "holy order" refers specifically to the sacrament of ordination, a sacred rite through which a person is consecrated for ministry.
   • A rank within the Christian clergy: (Often used in the plural: holy orders) This meaning denotes the status, rank, or office of an ordained Christian minister (e.g., deacon, priest, bishop) within an ecclesiastical hierarchy.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Sacrament):

  • He received the holy order of priesthood in a solemn ceremony.
  • The sacrament of holy order confers a special grace for ministry.

• Noun (Rank/Office - usually plural):

  • After years of study, she took holy orders and became a deacon.
  • He was admitted to the holy orders of the church last year.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in holy orders": to be an ordained member of the clergy.
  • Only those in holy orders may perform certain sacraments.
• "To take holy orders": to enter the clergy by being ordained.
  • He decided to take holy orders and dedicate his life to the church.

Variants and Related Words

• Ordination (n): The act or ceremony of conferring holy orders; the state of being ordained.
  • His ordination was attended by the entire congregation.
• Holy Orders (n, plural): The specific term for the ranks of the clergy, treated as a plural noun.
  • The bishop holds the highest of the holy orders.

Different Meanings

The term has two primary, closely related meanings: 1. The sacramental rite itself (ordination). 2. The ecclesiastical office or status received through that rite. The plural form "holy orders" is standard for the second meaning.

Synonyms

• Ordination: (for the sacrament) Consecration, holy sacrament.
• Clergy: (for the status/rank) Ministry, priesthood, the cloth.

Related Idioms

• "Called to holy orders": Experiencing a spiritual vocation to become ordained.
  • From a young age, he felt called to holy orders.

Noun

1. the sacrament of ordination
2. (usually plural) the status or rank or office of a Christian clergyman in an ecclesiastical hierarchy
   • theologians still disagree over whether `bishop' should or should not be a separate Order