ordinate
/ˈɔː(ɹ)dɪnət/noun, verb, adjective
ordinate is spelled O-R-D-I-N-A-T-E: 8 letters. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 32,393rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, ordinate means “The second of the two terms by which a point is referred to, in a system of fixed rectilinear coordinate (Cartesian coordinate) axes” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of ordinate is ordinates.
How many letters and syllables are in ordinate?
| Letters | 8: O-R-D-I-N-A-T-E |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 32,393rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is ordinate?
Ordinate appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 32,393rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce ordinate?
- /ˈɔː(ɹ)dɪnət/
As a verb (“To align a series of objects”): /ˈɔː(ɹ)dɪneɪt/.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-ordinate.wav, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-ordinate2.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of ordinate
- ordinates plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- ordinating participle, present
- ordinated participle, past
- more ordinate comparative
- most ordinate superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does ordinate mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The second of the two terms by which a point is referred to, in a system of fixed rectilinear coordinate (Cartesian coordinate) axes.
Coordinate term: abscissa
- 2
The vertical line representing an axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, on which the ordinate (sense above) is shown.
verb
- 1
To align a series of objects.
- 2
To ordain a priest, or consecrate a bishop.
- 3
archaicTo order or regulate; to control, govern, or direct.
- 4
obsoleteTo institute, establish; to ordain; to predestine.
- 5
To subject to the mathematical operation of ordination.
- 6
obsoletepast participle of ordinate
adjective
- 1
rareObservant of order, keeping within set limits; moderate, temperate
- 2
obsoleteConforming to order or rule, ordered, regulated, regular, orderly.
ordinate power
- 3
rareArranged regularly in a row or rows.
- 4
obsoleteOf a figure: having all its sides and angles equal.
- 5
obsoleteRelating to an ordered series of ratios.
ordinate proportionality; ordinate proportion
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Ordinate in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | ordonnée |
| German | Ordinate , Hochachse |
| Portuguese | ordenada |
| Spanish | ordenada , ordenar, tonsurar, ordinar , alinear , ordenado |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does ordinate come from?
Partly inherited from Middle English ordinat(e) (adjective and participle), partly directly borrowed from Latin ōrdinātus, perfect passive participle of ōrdinō, see -ate (etymology 1, 2 and 3). Doublet of ordain. Sense 5 of the verb is from a back-formation from ordination.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).