1. A difficult or painful experience, especially one that severely tests character or endurance. See synonyms at trial. 2. A method of trial in which the accused was subjected to physically painful or dangerous tests, the result being regarded as a divine judgment of guilt or innocence.
ETYMOLOGY:
Alteration (influenced by deal1) of Middle English ordal, trial by ordeal, from Old English ordl. See dail- in Appendix I.
ôr-d
l
l. See dail- in Appendix I.
