ORDEAL

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A primitive method of determining a person's guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control; escape was usually taken as a sign of innocence

Synonyms:

ordeal; trial by ordeal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("ordeal" is a kind of...):

trial ((law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A severe or trying experience

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("ordeal" is a kind of...):

experience (an event as apprehended)

Credits

Context examples:

After another hour Lucy waked from her sleep, fresh and bright and seemingly not much the worse for her terrible ordeal.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Among other things I exhibited this powder, and I told him of its strange properties, how it stimulates those brain centres which control the emotion of fear, and how either madness or death is the fate of the unhappy native who is subjected to the ordeal by the priest of his tribe.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

If you had a health difficulty this year, keep in mind that Jupiter is the planet of health, healing, and even miracles, the very best planet to have on your side when you are going through an ordeal.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

He knew that he must stand up to be introduced, and he struggled painfully to his feet, where he stood with trousers bagging at the knees, his arms loose-hanging and ludicrous, his face set hard for the impending ordeal.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It will be a fearful ordeal—be not deceived in that—but it will be only a short time, and you will then rejoice more than your pain was great; from this grim tomb you will emerge as though you tread on air.