ordain: Meaning and Definition of

or•dain

Pronunciation: (ôr-dān'), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to invest with ministerial or sacerdotal functions; confer holy orders upon.
  2. to enact or establish by law, edict, etc.: to ordain a new type of government.
  3. to decree; give orders for: He ordained that the restrictions were to be lifted.
  4. (of God, fate, etc.) to destine or predestine: Fate had ordained the meeting.
—v.i.
  1. to order or command: Thus do the gods ordain.
  2. to select for or appoint to an office.
  3. to invest someone with sacerdotal functions.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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