# ordeal

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɔːˈdiːl/ · frequency rank #15,671

## Definitions
1. 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.
2. A painful or trying experience.
3. The poisonous ordeal bean or Calabar bean.

## Etymology
From Middle English ordel, ordal, from Medieval Latin ordālium or inherited from its source Old English ordēl, ordāl (“ordeal, judgement”), from Proto-West Germanic *uʀdailī (“judgement”, literally “an out-dealing”), from *uʀdailijan (“to deal out; dispense”). For more, see Old English or-, English deal.
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Uurdeel (“judgement; verdict”), West Frisian oardiel (“judgement”), Dutch oordeel (“judgement, discretion”), Low German Oordeel (“judgement; verdict”), German Urteil (“judgement, verdict”).

## Easily confused with
- **order** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordeal-vs-order)
- **oreal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordeal-vs-oreal)
- **orders** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordeal-vs-orders)
- **Orwell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordeal-vs-orwell)
- **orderly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordeal-vs-orderly)
- **ordinal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ordeal-vs-ordinal)
- **oral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oral-vs-ordeal)
- **Odell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/odell-vs-ordeal)
- **O'Neal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/o-neal-vs-ordeal)

## Common misspellings (8)
`odreal`, `ordael`, `orddeal`, `ordeall`, `ordela`, `oredal`, `orrdeal`, `rodeal`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ordeal