Ŏr'di-nance, n.
n. [O. Fr. ordenance, N. Fr. ordonnance, Pr. ordenansa, ordonnansa, Sp. ordenanza, It. ordinanza. See ORDAIN.] 1. An ordaining or establishing by authority; appointment.
Thou'lt die by God's just ordinance. Shak.
Sense 2. A rule established by authority; a permanent rule of action; a statute, law, edict, decree, rescript.
☞ Acts of Parliament are sometimes called ordinances. Certain acts of Congress under the Confederation, as also certain colonial laws, are called ordinances; as, the ordinance of 1787 for the government of the territory of the United States north-west of the Ohio River; the colonial ordinance of 1641, or 1647. This word is often used in Scripture in the sense of a law or statute of sovereign power. Exod. xv. 25. Num. x. 8. Ezra iii. 10. Its most frequent application now in the United States is to laws and regulations of municipal corporations. Tomlins. Wharton. Burrill. Bouvier.
Sense 3. (Eccl.) An established rite or ceremony.
Sense 4. The same as ORDNANCE. [Obs.] Shak.
Sense 5. Order; arrangement. [Obs.] Spenser.