Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
orderly
orderly marketing agreement
ordinal
ordinal number
ordinal scale
ordinance
ordinand
ordinarily
ordinary
ordinary annuity
ordinary general meeting
Ordinary grade
ordinary interest
Ordinary level
ordinary rate
ordinary shares
ordinate
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "ordinary" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

ordinary

or·di·nar·y [ áwrd'n èrree ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. common: of a common everyday kind

2. unremarkable: not remarkable or special in any way, and therefore uninteresting and unimpressive
He's just a pretty ordinary kind of guy.

3. usual: usual or customary

4. law with immediate jurisdiction: having immediate jurisdiction, as opposed to jurisdiction by delegation or deputation

5. mathematics with two variables: describes a differential equation that has only two variables



noun  (plural or·di·nar·ies)
Definition:
 
1. law judge: a judge who acts in his or her own right

2. christianity cleric with judge's powers: a cleric, especially a bishop, whose position brings with it the power to act as a judge in some ecclesiastical matters

3. christianity unchanging parts of religious mass: in the Roman Catholic Church, the parts of the daily Mass that do not change from day to day

4. christianity form for religious service: in the Roman Catholic Church, the correct form that a religious service, especially Mass, should take, or a book that sets out the correct form

5. heraldry simple design: a simple shape or design used on a coat of arms

6. restaurant: an eating establishment or a dining room in an old tavern ( archaic )

[14th century. Via French< medieval Latin ordinarius "following the usual course" < Latin ordin- (see order)]

or·di·nar·i·ness noun

out of the ordinary unusual or extraordinary

Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft