ordinate

To align a series of objects.

Adjective

  1. Observant of order, keeping within set limits; moderate, temperate

    Synonyms: tidy orderly regular

  2. Conforming to order or rule, ordered, regulated, regular, orderly.
    • ordinate power
  3. Arranged regularly in a row or rows.
  4. Of a figure: having all its sides and angles equal.
  5. Relating to an ordered series of ratios.
    • ordinate proportionality; ordinate proportion

Origin

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.

Forms

more ordinate most ordinate

Related

inordinate

Derived

disordinate ordinate axis ordinate dimension ordinately semiordinate unordinate

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
    • The point (3,2) has 3 as its abscissa and 2 as its ordinate.

    Hypernyms: coordinate

  2. The vertical line representing an axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, on which the ordinate (sense above) is shown.

    Hypernyms: axis

Forms

ordinates

Verb

  1. To align a series of objects.
  2. To ordain a priest, or consecrate a bishop.

    Synonyms: ordain

  3. To order or regulate; to control, govern, or direct.
  4. To institute, establish; to ordain; to predestine.
  5. To subject to the mathematical operation of ordination.
  6. past participle of ordinate

Forms

ordinates ordinating ordinated

Related

ordination

Derived

foreordinate