ordinance
Pronunciation: /ˈɔːdɪnəns/
noun
formal- 1an authoritative order.
- North American a municipal by-law: they issued an ordinance limiting the length of nets
- 2a religious rite: his strict observance of religious ordinances was no doubt quickened by the remorse he felt
- 3archaic term for ordonnance.
Origin:
Middle English (also in the sense 'arrangement in ranks'): from Old French ordenance, from medieval Latin ordinantia, from Latin ordinare 'put in order' (see ordain)