Or'de-al1, n.
n. [A-S. ordāl, ordæl, a judgment, just judgment, O. Sax. urdēli, L. Ger. ordeel, D. oordeel, O. H. Ger. urteil, urteili, N. H. Ger. urtheil, L. Lat. ordalium, Fr. ordel, ordaile; Ger. urtheilen, to pass sentence, to judge, from ur, Goth. us, signifying forth, out, prime, original, and theilen, O. H. Ger. tellan, A-S. dǣlan, to divide.]
Sense 1. An ancient form of trial to determine guilt or innocence, practiced by the rude nations of Europe, and still practiced in many parts of the East.
☞ In England, the ordeal was of two sorts—ordeal by fire, and ordeal by water; the former being confined to persons of higher rank, the latter to the common people. The ordeal by fire was performed either by taking in the hand a piece of red-hot iron, or by walking barefoot and blindfold over nine red-hot plowshares, laid lengthwise, at unequal distances; and if the person escaped unhurt, he was adjudged innocent; otherwise he was condemned as guilty. The ordeal by water was performed, either by plunging the bare arm to the elbow in boiling water, an escape from injury being taken as proof of innocence; or by casting the person suspected into a river or pond, when if he floated without an effort to swim, it was an evidence of guilt, but if he sunk he was acquitted. It is probable that the proverbial phrase, to go through fire and water, denoting severe trial or danger, is derived from the ordeal; as also the trial of witches by water.
Sense 2. Severe trial; accurate scrutiny.