ordeal

Meaning

Noun

• A painful or trying experience.
• A trial in which the accused was subjected to a dangerous test (such as ducking in water), divine authority deciding the guilt of the accused.
• The poisonous ordeal bean or Calabar bean

Origin

• From Middle English ordel, ordal, from Medieval Latin ordālium or inherited from its source Old English ordēl, ordāl, from Proto-West Germanic *uʀdailī ("judgement"), from *uʀdailijan, equivalent to .
• Cognate with Saterland Frisian Uurdeel ("judgement; verdict"), West Frisian oardiel ("judgement"), Dutch oordeel ("judgement, discretion"), Low German Oordeel ("judgement; verdict"), German Urteil ("judgement, verdict").