ordinance

English Online Dictionary. What means ordinance‎? What does ordinance mean?

English

Alternative forms

• ordinaunce (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English ordinaunce (ca. 1300), from Old French ordenance (“decree, command”) (modern French ordonnance), from Medieval Latin ordinantia, from ordinans, the present participle of ordino (“put in order”) (whence ordain). Doublet of ordonnance.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɔːdɪnəns/, /ˈɔːdnəns/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈoɹdɪnəns/, /ˈoɹdnəns/
• Homophone: ordnance (some pronunciations)

Noun

ordinance (plural ordinances)

1. (US) A local law, passed by e.g. a city.

   Synonym: (chiefly Commonwealth) bylaw
2. An edict or decree, authoritative order.
   1. (England) Prior to the Third English Civil War, a decree of Parliament.
   2. (UK, pre-1992 universities, Commonwealth) Detailed legislation that translates the broad principles of the university's charter and statutes into practical effect.
   3. (Hong Kong) A law enacted by the Hong Kong Legislative Council.
   4. (India, Pakistan) A temporary legislation promulgated by the president on the recommendation of the cabinet.
3. A religious practice or ritual prescribed by a church.

   Coordinate term: sacrament

4. (proscribed) Alternative form of ordnance (“military equipment, especially artillery”).

Derived terms

• incontinent ordinance
• preordinance
• ordnance

Related terms

Translations

References

• “ordinance”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Anagrams

• draconine