Definition

1. Noun:
   • A severe or trying experience: An extremely difficult, painful, or stressful event or period that tests one's character or endurance.
   • (Historical) A primitive method of trial: An ancient judicial practice where an accused person's guilt or innocence was determined by subjecting them to a dangerous or painful physical test, the outcome of which was believed to be a divine judgment.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Severe Experience):
  • Recovering from the surgery was a real ordeal for her.
  • The hostages described their 10-day captivity as a terrifying ordeal.
• Noun (Historical Method):
  • In medieval Europe, trial by ordeal might involve holding a red-hot iron.
  • If the accused's hand healed well after the ordeal, it was seen as a sign of innocence.

Advanced Usage

• "ordeal by fire": Can refer literally to the historical trial method or metaphorically to a very difficult test or experience.
  • The final exam was an ordeal by fire for the unprepared students.
• "ordeal of...": Used to specify the nature of the difficult experience.
  • She spoke about the ordeal of losing her home in the flood.

Variants and Related Words

• Ordealist (n, rare/archaic): A person who undergoes an ordeal.
• Ordeal bean: Refers to the poisonous Calabar bean, historically used in ordeals in West Africa.

Synonyms

• Trial: A test of patience or endurance.
• Tribulation: A cause of great trouble or suffering.
• Hardship: Severe suffering or privation.

Related Phrases

• Baptism of fire: A difficult initial experience, often in a new job or role. (Note: This is a related idiom, not a phrasal verb with 'ordeal').
• Trial and tribulation: A common phrase meaning difficult experiences and problems.

Noun

1. a primitive method of determining a person's guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control; escape was usually taken as a sign of innocence
2. a severe or trying experience