Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Invested with ministerial or priestly functions: Having officially received the authority to perform religious ceremonies and duties, typically through a formal religious rite.
   • Fixed or established especially by order or command: Decreed, ordered, or set by an authority, often implying something is fated or officially determined.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Religious context):
  • Only an ordained minister can perform the wedding ceremony in this church.
  • After years of study, she became an ordained priest.
• Adjective (Established by authority/fate):
  • The meeting will proceed at the ordained time.
  • It seemed as if their victory was ordained by destiny.

Advanced Usage

• "to be ordained": This passive verb form is commonly used to describe the act of becoming a member of the clergy.
  • He was ordained in a beautiful ceremony last spring.
• "as ordained by": Used to indicate the source of an established rule or fate.
  • The festival takes place on the date ordained by ancient tradition.

Variants and Related Words

• Ordain (verb): To confer holy orders upon someone; to order or decree something officially.
  • The bishop will ordain the new deacons next week.
  • The council ordained that the new law would take effect immediately.
• Ordination (noun): The ceremony or process of being ordained as a member of the clergy.
  • Her ordination was a very moving event.

Synonyms

• Consecrated: Made or declared sacred, especially in a religious ceremony.
• Decreed: Ordered authoritatively.
• Appointed: Designated or fixed for a specific purpose or time.
• Destined: Seemingly determined in advance by fate.

Related Phrases

• Preordained: Decided or determined in advance, often by a divine power.
  • Some believe the outcome was preordained.

Adjective

1. invested with ministerial or priestly functions
   • an ordained priest
2. fixed or established especially by order or command
   • at the time appointed (or the appointed time)