ordinary
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: ordinaries
Sense 1
A person with authority; authority, ordinance. — A person having immediate jurisdiction in a given case of ecclesiastical law, such as the bishop within a diocese.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
A person with authority; authority, ordinance. — A judge with the authority to deal with cases himself or herself rather than by delegation.
Noun
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Having regular jurisdiction; now only used in certain phrases.
Adjective
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 4
Being part of the natural order of things; normal, customary, routine.
Adjective
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “ordinary” mean?
A person with authority; authority, ordinance. — A person having immediate jurisdiction in a given case of ecclesiastical law, such as the bishop within a diocese.
Is “ordinary” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.