From Middle English ordeynen, from Old French ordiner, from Latin ordinare, from ordo ("order").

• (America) IPA: /ɔɹˈdeɪn/
• (RP) IPA: /ɔːˈdeɪn/

ordain (ordains, present participle ordaining; simple past and past participle ordained)

1. To prearrange unalterably.
   • 1733, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], epistle I, London: Printed for J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC ↗, page 15 ↗, lines 248–251:

     What if the Foot, ordain'd the duſt to tread, / Or Hand, to toil, aſpir'd to be the Head? / What if the Head, the Eye, or Ear repin'd / To ſerve mere Engines to the ruling Mind?

2. To decree.
3. (religion) To admit into the ministry, for example as a priest, bishop, minister or Buddhist monk, or to authorize as a rabbi.
4. To predestine.

• foresay

• German: festlegen

• German: weihen
• Russian: рукополагать
• Spanish: ordenar, tonsurar, ordinar