Webster's English Dictionary

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ordeal

or.deal \o.r-'de-(-*)l, 'o.r-.\ n [ME ordal, fr. OE orda-l; akin to OHG 
   urteil judgment; bot]h fr. a prehistoric WGmc compound derived fr. a 
   compound verb represented by OHG irteilen to judge, distribute, fr. ir-, 
   perfective prefix + teilen to divide, render a verdict; akin to OHG teil 
   part - more at ABIDE, DEAL 1: a primitive means used to determine guilt or 
   innocence by submitting the  accused to dangerous or painful tests believed 
   to be under supernatural control {~ by fire} 2: a severe trial or 
   experience