English Meaning & Definitions
A painful or horrific experience, trial, or test of character that is difficult to endure.
- “The hostages went through a terrifying ordeal that lasted for several weeks.”
- “After the long ordeal of the court case, she was finally able to move on with her life.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “ordeal”.
Derived from the Old English 'ordēl' (judgment), related to the Old Saxon 'urdēli'. Historically, it referred to an ancient judicial practice where an accused person was subjected to a painful physical test (such as walking on hot coals or being submerged in water) under the belief that divine intervention would protect the innocent.
Think of an 'OR-DEAL' as a 'DEAL' that is so difficult it feels like a test of your soul.
Frequently Asked Questions About “ordeal”
1. What is the meaning of “ordeal” in English?
In English, ordeal (noun) is defined as: “A painful or horrific experience, trial, or test of character that is difficult to endure.”.
2. How do you use “ordeal” in a sentence?
“The hostages went through a terrifying ordeal that lasted for several weeks.”
3. What are English synonyms of “ordeal”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “ordeal”?
Derived from the Old English 'ordēl' (judgment), related to the Old Saxon 'urdēli'. Historically, it referred to an ancient judicial practice where an accused person was subjected to a painful physical test (such as walking on hot coals or being submerged in water) under the belief that divine intervention would protect the innocent.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.