ordinary
- ordinary
\ \ [14] Latin ōrdinārius meant ‘following the usual course’; it was a derivative of ōrdō, source of English order. It was originally used in English as a noun, meaning ‘someone with jurisdiction in ecclesiastical cases’, and right up until the 19th century the noun ordinary was common, with an amazingly wide range of meanings (including ‘post, mail’, ‘fixed allowance’, ‘priest who visited people in the condemned cell’, and ‘tavern’). Nowadays, however, the only (quasi-)nominal use at all frequently encountered is in the phrase out of the ordinary. English first took the word up as an adjective in the 15th century.
\ \ Cf.⇒ ORDER
Word origins - 2ed.
J. Ayto.
2005.
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Look at other dictionaries:
ordinary — or·di·nary adj: of a kind to be expected from the average person or in the normal course of events; broadly: of a common kind or degree an ordinary proceeding compare extraordinary Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 … Law dictionary
Ordinary — • Denotes any person possessing or exercising ordinary jurisdiction Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Ordinary Ordinary † … Catholic encyclopedia
Ordinary — Or di*na*ry, n.; pl. {Ordinaries} ( r[i^]z). 1. (Law) (a) (Roman Law) An officer who has original jurisdiction in his own right, and not by deputation. (b) (Eng. Law) One who has immediate jurisdiction in matters ecclesiastical; an ecclesiastical … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Ordinary — Or di*na*ry, a. [L. ordinarius, fr. ordo, ordinis, order: cf. F. ordinaire. See {Order}.] 1. According to established order; methodical; settled; regular. The ordinary forms of law. Addison. [1913 Webster] 2. Common; customary; usual. Shak. [1913 … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
ordinary — ► ADJECTIVE 1) with no distinctive features; normal or usual. 2) (of a judge, archbishop, or bishop) exercising authority by virtue of office and not by delegation. ► NOUN (pl. ordinaries) 1) (Ordinary) those parts of a Roman Catholic service,… … English terms dictionary
ordinary — (adj.) mid 15c., belonging to the usual order or course, from O.Fr. ordinarie, from L. ordinarius customary, regular, usual, orderly, from ordo (gen. ordinis) order (see ORDER (Cf. order) (n.)). Various noun usages, dating to late 14c. and common … Etymology dictionary
ordinary — Shortened designation for ordinary mail … Glossary of postal terms
ordinary — [adj1] common, regular accustomed, customary, established, everyday, familiar, frequent, general, habitual, humdrum*, natural, normal, popular, prevailing, public, quotidian, routine, run of the mill*, settled, standard, stock, traditional,… … New thesaurus
ordinary — [ôrd′ n er΄ē] n. pl. ordinaries [OFr & ML: OFr ordinarie < ML(Ec) ordinarius < L, an overseer, orig., orderly, regular < ordo,ORDER] 1. a) an official having jurisdiction within a specified area by right of the office he or she holds;… … English World dictionary
ordinary — adj *common, familiar, popular, vulgar Analogous words: *usual, customary, habitual, wonted, accustomed Antonyms: extraordinary Contrasted words: *abnormal, atypical, aberrant: *exceptional: *irregular … New Dictionary of Synonyms
ordinary — 1. noun At common law, one who had exempt and immediate jurisdiction in causes ecclesiastical. Also a bishop; and an archbishop is the ordinary of the whole province, to visit and receive appeals from inferior jurisdictions. Also a commissary or… … Black's law dictionary
