DictionaryordainAuthoritative decree
verb

ordain

Order or determine something by authority or fate.

The king ordains that every village must provide grain.

Etymology

Latin ordinare means to arrange or put in order. The authoritative sense treats a command or destined outcome as something formally set into the order of events.

More examples

  • Fate ordained that they would meet again.
  • The city charter ordains that elections take place every spring.
  • No ruler can ordain an end to every conflict.

Forms

ordain · ordains · ordained · ordaining

Similar words

decree
Usually refers to an official ruling, rather than fate.
dictate
Emphasizes forceful control over what others must do.