Word Meanings - ORDEAL - Book Publishers vocabulary database

G. urteil, urtheil; orig., what is dealt out, the prefix or- being akin to a- compounded with verbs, G. er-, ur-, Goth. us-, orig. 1. An ancient form of test to determine guilt or innocence, by appealing to a supernatural decision, -- once common

Additional info about word: ORDEAL

G. urteil, urtheil; orig., what is dealt out, the prefix or- being akin to a- compounded with verbs, G. er-, ur-, Goth. us-, orig. 1. An ancient form of test to determine guilt or innocence, by appealing to a supernatural decision, -- once common in Europe, and still practiced in the East and by savage tribes. Note: In England ordeal by fire and ordeal by water were used, the former confined to persons of rank, the latter to the common people. The ordeal by fire was performed, either by handling red-hot iron, or by walking barefoot and blindfold over red-hot plowshares, laid at unequal distances. If the person escaped unhurt, he was adjudged innocent; otherwise he was condemned as guilty. The ordeal by water was performed, either by plunging the bare arm to the elbow in boiling water, an escape from injury being taken as proof of innocence, or by casting the accused person, bound hand and foot, into a river or pond, when if he floated it was an evidence of guilt, but if he sunk he was acquitted. It is probable that the proverbial phrase, to go through fire and water, denoting severe trial or danger, is derived from the ordeal. See Wager of battle, under Wager. 2. Any severe trial, or test; a painful experience. Ordeal bean. See Calabar bean, under Calabar. -- Ordeal root the root of a species of Strychnos growing in West Africa, used, like the ordeal bean, in trials for witchcraft. -- Ordeal tree , a poisonous tree of Madagascar (Tanghinia, or Cerbera, venenata). Persons suspected of crime are forced to eat the seeds of the plumlike fruit, and criminals are put to death by being pricked with a lance dipped in the juice of the seeds.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of ORDEAL)

• Test
• Cupel
• trial
• examination
• proof
• criterion
• standard
• experiment
• touchstone
• experience
• ordeal
• Trial
• gauge
• temptation
• trouble
• affliction
• grief
• burden
• suffering
• attempt
• endeavor
• essay
• tribulation
• verification

Possible antonyms: (opposite words of ORDEAL)

• Evade
• escape
• miss
• lose
• Compose
• calm
• allay
• appease
• please
• soothe
• delight
• gratify
• recreate
• entertain
• relieve
• refresh

Related words: (words related to ORDEAL)

• GAUGE
  To measure the dimensions of, or to test the accuracy of the form of, as of a part of a gunlock. The vanes nicely gauged on each side. Derham. 4. To draw into equidistant gathers by running a thread through it, as cloth or a garment. 5. To measure
• DELIGHTING
  Giving delight; gladdening. -- De*light"ing*ly, adv. Jer. Taylor.
• EXPERIENCED
  Taught by practice or by repeated observations; skillful or wise by means of trials, use, or observation; as, an experienced physician, workman, soldier; an experienced eye. The ablest and most experienced statesmen. Bancroft.
• TRIALITY
  Three united; state of being three. H. Wharton.
• TROUBLER
  One who troubles or disturbs; one who afflicts or molests; a disturber; as, a troubler of the peace. The rich troublers of the world's repose. Waller.
• EXPERIMENTAL
  1. Pertaining to experiment; founded on, or derived from, experiment or trial; as, experimental science; given to, or skilled in, experiment; as, an experimental philosopher. 2. Known by, or derived from, experience; as, experimental religion.
• DELIGHTLESS
  Void of delight. Thomson.
• CUPELLATION
  The act or process of refining gold or silver, etc., in a cupel. Note: The process consist in exposing the cupel containing the metal to be assayed or refined to a hot blast, by which the lead, copper, tin, etc., are oxidized, dissolved, and carried
• ESSAYER
  One who essays. Addison.
• GAUGER
  One who gauges; an officer whose business it is to ascertain the contents of casks.
• BURDENER
  One who loads; a oppressor.
• GAUGEABLE
  Capable of being gauged.
• EXPERIMENTIST
  An experimenter.
• STANDARD
  The proportion of weights of fine metal and alloy established by authority. By the present standard of the coinage, sixty-two shillings is coined out of one pound weight of silver. Arbuthnot. (more info) extendere to spread out, extend,
• ESSAY
  A composition treating of any particular subject; -- usually shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as, an essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on commerce. 3. An assay. See Assay, n.
• COMPOSE
  To arrange in a composing stick in order for printing; to set . (more info) 1. To form by putting together two or more things or parts; to put together; to make up; to fashion. Zeal ought to be composed of the hidhest degrees of all
• EXPERIMENTATOR
  An experimenter.
• AFFLICTION
  1. The cause of continued pain of body or mind, as sickness, losses, etc.; an instance of grievous distress; a pain or grief. To repay that money will be a biting affliction. Shak. 2. The state of being afflicted; a state of pain, distress, or
• ATTEMPTER
  1. One who attempts; one who essays anything. 2. An assailant; also, a temper.
• PROOF-PROOF
  Proof against proofs; obstinate in the wrong. "That might have shown to any one who was not proof-proof." Whateley.
• LONG-SUFFERANCE
  Forbearance to punish or resent.
• SELF-REPROOF
  The act of reproving one's self; censure of one's conduct by one's own judgment.
• OVERTROUBLED
  Excessively troubled.
• HIGH-PROOF
  1. Highly rectified; very strongly alcoholic; as, high-proof spirits. 2. So as to stand any test. "We are high-proof melancholy." Shak.
• DECOMPOSE
  To separate the constituent parts of; to resolve into original elements; to set free from previously existing forms of chemical combination; to bring to dissolution; to rot or decay.
• PLOT-PROOF
  Secure against harm by plots. Shak.
• AGRIEF
  In grief; amiss. Chaucer.
• HEARTGRIEF
  Heartache; sorrow. Milton.