I. -rē, -ri noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English ordinarie, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin ordinarius, from Latin ordinarius, adjective
1.
a.
(1) often capitalized : a prelate exercising actual ecclesiastical jurisdiction over a specified territory
the local ordinary of a province is an archbishop
(2) : a clergyman appointed formerly in England to give spiritual assistance to condemned criminals and to prepare them for the ordeal of the death penalty
b.
(1) civil & Scots law : a judge having jurisdiction in his own right ; specifically : a lord ordinary in Scotland
(2) : a judge of probate in some states of the United States
c. obsolete : the persons formerly employed to care for warships when laid up
d. obsolete : a courier in regular service ; also : mail
e. : the second rank in the sea exploring program of the Boy Scouts of America
2.
a.
(1) obsolete : regular provision or allowance (as of food)
(2) Britain : a meal served to all comers at a fixed price in distinction from one where each dish is separately charged for
lunching … on the very excellent ordinary — Elizabeth Montizambert
(3) chiefly Britain : a tavern or eating house where regular meals are served ; also : the dining room in such a house
b.
(1) : regular, customary, or ordinary condition or course of things : such as is ordinarily met with or experienced — usually used in the phrase out of the ordinary
nothing out of the ordinary — Glenway Wescott
(2) : someone or something of ordinary or routine character
the little ordinaries of life
c.
(1) : a heraldic charge or bearing (as the bend, chevron, chief, cross, fess, pale, or saltire) of simple form and in constant use — see subordinary
(2) : a book containing a collection of coats of arms arranged by design — compare armory
d. : an early bicycle with a very large and a very small wheel as distinguished from a safety bicycle
e. Britain : common stock or a share of it
3. often capitalized
a. : an ecclesiastical order of service ; specifically : the parts of the mass that do not vary from day to day
b. : the part of a missal containing the ordinary of the mass
•
- by ordinary
- in ordinary
II. adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English ordinarie, from Latin ordinarius, from ordin-, ordo order + -arius -ary — more at order
1.
a.
(1) : occurring or encountered in the usual course of events : not uncommon or exceptional : not remarkable : routine , normal
the ordinary experience common to everyone — W.V.Houston
a spring van, ordinary in shape but singular in color — Thomas Hardy
the ordinary traffic had been stopped … to allow of the passage of troops and guns — H.G.Wells
(2) obsolete : being of frequent occurrence : common , abundant
(3) archaic : commonly experienced or practiced
b. : characterized by common quality, merit, rank, or ability : lacking in excellence, superior merit, uncommon appeal, or distinctive characteristics
just ordinary people, with no more authority or judgment than they had themselves — Rose Macaulay
not the ordinary rice, but rice which had been specially planted and tended — J.G.Frazer
c. : being of a poor or mediocre quality : second-rate , inferior
a very ordinary wine
d. : not advanced or honorary
an ordinary examination
an ordinary degree
e. : of or relating to life insurance sold in amounts of $1000 or more with premiums payable annually, semiannually, or quarterly — compare industrial life insurance
2.
a. : having or constituting immediate or original jurisdiction as opposed to that which is delegated : having jurisdiction of his own right or by virtue of office ; also : belonging to such jurisdiction
b. Britain : constituting the common-law branch of the Chancery Court
Synonyms: see common