Definition of Ordeal

Or´de`al   Pronunciation: ôr´dė`al
n.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.
2.Any severe trial, or test; a painful experience.
Ordeal bean
(Bot.) See Calabar bean, under Calabar.
Ordeal root
(Bot.) the root of a species of Strychnos growing in West Africa, used, like the ordeal bean, in trials for witchcraft.
Ordeal tree
(Bot.) a poisonous tree of Madagascar (Tanghinia venenata syn. 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.
a.1.Of or pertaining to trial by ordeal.


Related Words

Sabbat, acid test, adversity, anguish, assay, blank determination, brouillon, calvary, criterion, cross, crucial test, crucible, determination, disaster, distress, docimasy, essay, feeling out, fiery ordeal, first draft, ghost dance, grief, kiteflying, magic circle, misery, misfortune, nightmare, ordeal by battle, probation, rough draft, rough sketch, sounding out, standard, test case, touchstone, tragedy, trials and tribulations, tribulations, troubles, try, verification, visitation

Search

Word:

Browse

Orchidales
Orchidean
Orchideous
Orchidologist
Orchidology
Orchil
Orchilla weed
Orchis
Orchitis
Orchotomy
Orcin
Orcus
Ord
Ord and end
Ordain
Ordainable
Ordainer
Ordainment
Ordal
Ordalian
Ordeal bean
Ordeal root
Ordeal tree
Order
Order arms
Order book
Order in Council
Order of a differential equation
Order of battle
Order of Dannebrog
Order of the Bath
Order of the day
Orderable
ordered
Orderer
Ordering
Orderless
Orderliness
Orderly
Orderly book
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
© 2008 Interapple, Inc.Cover