Dictionary

ordeal en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ɔɹˈdil/ (Canada, US)
• /ɔːˈdiːl/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English ordel, ordal, from Medieval Latin ordālium or inherited from its source Old English ordēl, ordāl (“ordeal, judgement”), from Proto-West Germanic *uʀdailī (“judgement”, literally “an out-dealing”), from *uʀdailijan (“to deal out; dispense”). For more, see Old English or-, English deal. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Uurdeel (“judgement; verdict”), West Frisian oardiel (“judgement”), Dutch oordeel (“judgement, discretion”), Low German Oordeel (“judgement; verdict”), German Urteil (“judgement, verdict”).

Meanings

1. (historical) A trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test (such as ducking in water), divine authority deciding the guilt of the accused.
   • trial by ordeal
2. (figuratively) A painful or trying experience.
   • Arsène Wenger confessed: "The result was not an accurate indication of the match." Certainly, at half-time it seemed unlikely that Arsenal would catch fire so spectacularly because the first half was a damp squib of a display from Wenger's team, as Newcastle initially showed no ill-effects from their Old Trafford ordeal. 2012 December 29, Paul Doyle, “Arsenal's Theo Walcott hits hat-trick in thrilling victory over Newcastle”, in The Guardian:
   • “And do you realize that in a few shakes I've got to show up at dinner and have Mrs Cream being very, very kind to me? It hurts the pride of the Woosters, Jeeves.” “My advice, sir, would be to fortify yourself for the ordeal.” “How?” “There are always cocktails, sir. Should I pour you another?” “You should.” 1960, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, chapter XXI, in Jeeves in the Offing, London: Herbert Jenkins, →OCLC:
   • All the same, nearly eight hours on the footplate covering a distance of 320 miles, with an ambient temperature of up to 103° for much of the time, proved an ordeal which I would not lightly undertake again. 1960 October, P. Ransome-Wallis, “Modern motive power of the German Federal Railway: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, page 611:
3. The poisonous ordeal bean or Calabar bean.

Forms

Deriveds

trial by ordeal · ordalian · ordeal tree · ordeal bean

Relateds

trial by fire

Synonyms

tribulation · calvary · torment

Translations (84)

hu tortúra (a painful or trying experience) · pl sąd boży (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · pl ordalia (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · es ordalía (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · ru суд бо́жий (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · pt calvário (a painful or trying experience) · sv prövning (a painful or trying experience) · enm ordel (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · mk искуше́ние (a painful or trying experience) · ro chin (a painful or trying experience) · pt ordália (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · fa گرفتاری (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · uk орда́лія (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · no slit (a painful or trying experience) · sv pärs (a painful or trying experience) · pt via-crúcis (a painful or trying experience) · yue 磨難 /磨难 (a painful or trying experience) · mk су́дење (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · cmn 煎熬 (a painful or trying experience) · de Feuerprobe (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · es calvario (a painful or trying experience) · uk суд бо́жий (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · yue 神裁 (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · it calvario (a painful or trying experience) · es prueba del fuego (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · cmn 磨難 /磨难 (a painful or trying experience) · mi whakakohukitanga (a painful or trying experience) · mk ма́чило (a painful or trying experience) · fr ordalie (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · ka ორდალია (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · de Tortur (a painful or trying experience) · sv gudsdom (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · fi koettelemus (a painful or trying experience) · yue 煎熬 (a painful or trying experience) · cmn 神明裁判 (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · tr çile (a painful or trying experience) · ja 試練 (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · yue 神判 (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · ru суро́вое испыта́ние (a painful or trying experience) · hu megpróbáltatás (a painful or trying experience) · cmn 神裁 (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · el δεινοπάθημα (a painful or trying experience) · be ця́жкае выпрабава́нне (a painful or trying experience) · ar مِحْنَة (a painful or trying experience) · cmn 神判 (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · bg изпитание (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · no prøvelse (a painful or trying experience) · be арда́лія (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · ro ordalie (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · yue 神明裁判 (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · ru орда́лии (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · pt tormento (a painful or trying experience) · ka უფლის სასამართლო (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · el δοκιμασία (a painful or trying experience) · mk патеше́ствие (a painful or trying experience) · mk бо́жји суд (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · ar تَجْرُبَة (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · de Gottesurteil (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · sv ordal (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · pt martírio (a painful or trying experience) · pt provação (a painful or trying experience) · fr épreuve (a painful or trying experience) · fi jumaltuomio (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · fa مصیبت (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · ka გაჭირვება (a painful or trying experience) · es suplicio (a painful or trying experience) · it tortura (a painful or trying experience) · fr calvaire (a painful or trying experience) · be суд бо́жы (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · mk пре́мреже (a painful or trying experience) · nl beproeving (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · it ordalia (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · tr ateşten gömlek (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · ca calvari (a painful or trying experience) · bg мъчение (a painful or trying experience) · uk важке́ випро́бування (a painful or trying experience) · ka განსაცდელი (a painful or trying experience) · nl kwelling (a painful or trying experience) · ru орда́лия (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · nl ontbering (a painful or trying experience) · ar اِمْتِحَان (trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test) · ro calvar (a painful or trying experience) · hu kálvária (a painful or trying experience) · ja 苦杯 (a painful or trying experience)