ordinal
|or-di-nal|
🇺🇸
/ˈɔːrdənəl/
🇬🇧
/ˈɔːdɪnəl/
position in a sequence
Etymology
'ordinal' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'ordinalis', where 'ordo' meant 'order' and the suffix '-alis' formed an adjective meaning 'relating to'.
'ordinal' passed into Medieval and then Middle English from Late Latin/Old French (via words like 'ordinal'/'ordinale') and eventually became the modern English 'ordinal'.
Initially, it meant 'relating to order' in a general sense; over time it specialized to refer to positions in a sequence (ordinal numbers) and gained technical senses in mathematics and liturgy.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an ordinal number; a number that indicates the position of something in a sequence (e.g., 'first', 'second').
In the sequence 1st, 2nd, 3rd, each term is an ordinal.
Synonyms
Noun 2
(Mathematics, set theory) A type of number that describes the order type of a well-ordered set, including transfinite ordinals.
Countable ordinals are important in transfinite induction.
Synonyms
Noun 3
(rare, historical) A liturgical book containing the rites for ordination.
The church kept the old ordinal in its archives.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to order or position in a series (e.g., first, second, third).
The survey used ordinal scales to record respondents' preferences (first, second, third).
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/23 12:26