order
A. rank of angels; grade in the Christian ministry; (gen.) rank, grade; monastic society or fraternity XII (o. of chivalry, etc. XIV); (archit.) system of parts in established proportions XVI; (math.) degree of complexity of form; higher group of animals, etc. XVIII;

B. sequence, disposition; method of procedure or action XIV (in o. to, take o. XVI); condition of observance of law and usage XV;

C. regulation, direction, mandate XVI. ME. ordre — (O)F. ordre, earlier ordene — L. ōrdinem, nom. ōrdō row, etc., rel. to ōrdīrī begin, ōrnāre ADORN.
Hence orderly arranged in or observant of order XVI; charged with the conveyance or execution of orders XVIII (o. man, officer, †sergeant, hence as sb., by ellipsis). So ordinal †(rare) regular, orderly XIV; (of numbers) XVI; (nat. hist.) pert. to an order XIX. — late L. ōrdinālis. ordinal sb. book of the order of divine service XIV; form of ordination XVII. — medL. ōrdināle, n. sg. of ōrdinālis. ordinance A. (arch.) regular arrangement; authoritative direction; prescribed usage XIV; B. †provision, supply; spec. military supplies (now ordnance) XIV. — OF. ordenance (now ordonnance) — medL. ōrdinantia, f. ōrdināre ORDAIN. ordinand one about to be ordained. XIX. ordinary A. (eccl. and leg.) one having immediate jurisdiction or authority in juridical matters; B. book of divine service; C. sb. uses of the adj. from XVI. — AN., OF. ordinarie (later and mod. ordinaire) — medL. ōrdinārius, and in n. sg. ōrdinārium. So adj. belonging to the regular order or course; having regular jurisdiction XV; of the usual kind XVI. — L. ōrdinārius orderly, usual; see -ARY. ordination XV. — (O)F. or L., f. ordināre ORDAIN. ordnance XVII (see ORDINANCE). ordonnance systematic arrangement. XVII. — F., alt. of OF. ordenance, after F. ordonner.