All 5 Uses of
ordeal
in
The Mark of Athena
- "But she might know about the ordeals!" another cried.†
p. 414.4 *ordeals = very difficult or painful experiences
- The ordeals!†
p. 414.4
- "You must choose an ordeal!" the pater insisted.†
p. 416.5ordeal = very difficult or painful experience
- Maybe they'd thought they could beat the ordeal.†
p. 416.6
- Therefore, I have already passed your ordeal!†
p. 417.5
Definitions:
-
(1)
(ordeal) a very difficult or painful experience
-
(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) meaning too rare to warrant focus:
Much more rarely, ordeal can refer to a primitive method of determining a person's guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control. Escape or survival was usually taken as a sign of innocence.