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ordinal

 - 5 dictionary results

or⋅di⋅nal

1  [awr-dn-uhl]
Use ordinal in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of or pertaining to an order, as of animals or plants.
2. of or pertaining to order, rank, or position in a series.
–noun
3. an ordinal number or numeral.
Origin:
1590–1600; < LL ōrdinālis in order equiv. to L ōrdin- (s. of ōrdō) order + -ālis -al 1

Related forms:
or⋅di⋅nal⋅ly, adverb

or⋅di⋅nal

2  [awr-dn-uhl]
–noun
1. a directory of ecclesiastical services.
2. a book containing the forms for the ordination of priests, consecration of bishops, etc.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML ōrdināle, n. use of neut. of ōrdinālis in order. See ordinal 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ordinal
or·di·nal   (ôr'dn-əl)   
adj.  

  1. Being of a specified position in a numbered series: an ordinal rank of seventh.

  2. Of or relating to a taxonomic order.

n.  

  1. An ordinal number.

  2. Ecclesiastical

    1. A book of instructions for daily services.

    2. A book of forms for ordination.


[Middle English ordinel, orderly, regular, from Late Latin ōrdinālis, ordinal, from Latin ōrdō, ōrdin-, order; see ar- in Indo-European roots. N., sense 2, from Middle English, from Medieval Latin ōrdināle, from Late Latin, neuter sing. of ōrdinālis, ordinal.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

ordinal  (n.)
1387, "book setting forth the order of services in the Church," from L.L. adj. ordinalis "showing order, denoting an order of succession," from L. ordo (gen. ordinis) "row, series" (see order). The adj. in Eng., "marking position in an order or series," is attested from 1599.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Computing Dictionary

ordinal mathematics
An isomorphism class of well-ordered sets.
(1995-03-10)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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