Holy Orders

Pronunciation: /ˈhoʊli ˈɔːrdərz/

Definitions of holy orders

noun a sacrament in certain Christian churches conferring special status upon those ordained to the ministry

Example Sentences

A1 Holy orders are a sacrament in the Catholic Church.

A2 Priests and bishops receive holy orders through a special ceremony.

B1 The process of entering holy orders requires years of training and study.

B2 The responsibilities of those in holy orders include leading worship services and providing spiritual guidance.

C1 The decision to enter holy orders is a lifelong commitment to serving the church and its members.

C2 Candidates for holy orders undergo a rigorous selection process to ensure they are prepared for the responsibilities of the role.

Examples of holy orders in a Sentence

formal The bishop ordained the new priests into holy orders during the ceremony.

informal My cousin just joined the holy orders to become a priest.

slang I heard that dude is about to take the plunge into holy orders.

figurative She felt like she was being called to her own version of holy orders in her career.

Grammatical Forms of holy orders

• plural: holy orders
• comparative: holier orders
• superlative: holiest orders
• present tense: holy orders
• future tense: will be holy orders
• perfect tense: have been holy orders
• continuous tense: are being holy orders
• singular: holy order
• positive degree: holy orders
• infinitive: to ordain as holy orders
• gerund: ordaining as holy orders
• participle: ordained as holy orders

Origin and Evolution of holy orders

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The term 'holy orders' originated in the Christian Church to refer to the sacrament or rite of ordination to the clergy.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in Latin as 'ordo sacra', the term evolved in English to 'holy orders' to specifically denote the ranks or degrees of the clergy within the Church.