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ordinate.

The second of the two terms by which a point is referred to, in a system of fixed rectilinear coordinate (Cartesian coordinate) axes.

8 characters3 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/ˈɔː(ɹ)dɪnət/
  1. The second of the two terms by which a point is referred to, in a system of fixed rectilinear coordinate (Cartesian coordinate) axes.

    The point (3,2) has 3 as its abscissa and 2 as its ordinate.
  2. The vertical line representing an axis of a Cartesian coordinate system, on which the ordinate (sense above) is shown.

Where this word comes 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.

verb/ˈɔː(ɹ)dɪneɪt/
  1. To align a series of objects.

    transitive
  2. To ordain a priest, or consecrate a bishop.

    transitive · uncommon
  3. To order or regulate; to control, govern, or direct.

    archaic · transitive
  4. To institute, establish; to ordain; to predestine.

    obsolete · transitive
  5. To subject to the mathematical operation of ordination.

    transitive
  6. past participle of ordinate

    form-of · obsolete · participle · past
Where this word comes 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.

adj/ˈɔː(ɹ)dɪnət/
  1. Observant of order, keeping within set limits; moderate, temperate

    rare
  2. Conforming to order or rule, ordered, regulated, regular, orderly.

    obsolete
    ordinate power
  3. Arranged regularly in a row or rows.

    rare
  4. Of a figure: having all its sides and angles equal.

    obsolete
  5. Relating to an ordered series of ratios.

    obsolete
    ordinate proportionality; ordinate proportion
Where this word comes 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.

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.