noun
ordinary
An official whose authority comes from holding a particular office.
The bishop serves as the ordinary of the diocese.
Etymology
The Latin ancestor means regular or according to established order. An ordinary holds authority attached to the office itself rather than authority granted only for a special occasion.
More examples
- The priest seeks permission from his local ordinary.
- Each ordinary exercises the authority attached to the office.
- The ordinaries meet to discuss matters affecting their dioceses.
Forms
ordinary · ordinaries
Similar words
- official
- A broader term that does not specify the authority's source.
- officeholder
- Emphasizes holding a position rather than possessing its inherent authority.