1. or.der \'o.rd-*r\ n [MF ordre, fr. ML & L; ML ordin-, ordo ecclesiastical order,]fr. L, arrangement, group, class; akin to L ordiri to lay the warp, begin 1a: a group of people united (as by living under the same religious rules or by having won the same distinction) in some formal way 1b: a badge or medal of such a society; also : a military decoration 2a: any of the several grades of the Christian ministry pl 2b: the office of a person in the Christian ministry pl 2c: ORDINATION 3a: a rank, class, or special group in a community or society 3b: a class of persons or things grouped according to quality, value, or natural characteristics; specif : a category of taxonomic classification ranking above the family and below the class 4a: the arrangement or sequence of objects in position or of events in time 4b: DEGREE 4c: a transitive arrangement of mathematical elements 4d: the number of columns or rows in a determinant 5a: the prevailing mode or arrangement of things {the old ~} 5b: regular or harmonious arrangement {the ~ of nature}; also : a condition characterized by such an arrangement 6a: the customary mode of procedure esp. in debate or other business {point of ~} 6b: a prescribed form of a religious service : RITE 7a: the rule of law or proper authority {~ was restored} 7b: a specific rule, regulation, or authoritative direction : COMMAND 8a: a style of building 8b: a type of column and entablature forming the unit of a style 9: state or condition esp. with regard to functioning or repair {out of ~} 10a: a written direction to pay money to someone 10b: a commission to purchase, sell, or supply goods or to perform work 10c: goods or items bought or sold : for the purpose of - in order to
2. order \'o.rd-(*-)rin\ \-*r-*r\ vb or or.der.ing 1: to put in order : ARRANGE 2a: to give an order to : COMMAND 2b: DESTINE, ORDAIN 2c: to command to go or come to a specified place 2d: to give an order for 1: to bring about order : REGULATE 2a: to issue orders : COMMAND 2b: to give or place an order SYN syn ORDER, ARRANGE, MARSHAL, ORGANIZE, SYSTEMATIZE, METHODIZE mean to put persons or things into their proper places in relation to each other. ORDER suggests a straightening out so as to eliminate confusion; ARRANGE implies a setting in sequence, relationship, or adjustment; MARSHAL suggests gathering and arranging in preparation for a particular operation or effective use; ORGANIZE implies arranging so that the whole aggregate works as a unit with each element having a proper function; SYSTEMATIZE implies arranging to a predetermined scheme; METHODIZE suggests imposing an orderly procedure rather than a fixed scheme - or.der.er n