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   ordeal

   /ɔːˈdiːl/

   noun

   • 1. a very unpleasant and prolonged experience: "the ordeal of having to give evidence"
   • 2. an ancient test of guilt or innocence by subjection of the accused to severe pain, survival of which was taken as divine proof of innocence: historical "ordeals conducted in the twelfth century"

   Word Origin Old Englishordāl, ordēl, of Germanic origin; related to German urteilen ‘give judgement’, from a base meaning ‘share out’. The word is not found in Middle English (except once in Chaucer's Troilus); modern use of ordeal (sense 2) began in the late 16th century, whence ordeal (sense 1) (mid 17th century).

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • O

     1

   • R

     1

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

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