how the meaning of "ordeal" changed?
the word "ordeal" has two meanings. one is 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. the other one is a difficult or painful experience. what i want to know is that how the meaning of "ordeal" changed from the first one to the second one. thk u!!!i did some research and knew that the first meaning has some connection with the ordeals in middle-age europe

Question

how the meaning of "ordeal" changed?
the word "ordeal" has two meanings. one is 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. the other one is a difficult or painful experience. what i want to know is that how the meaning of "ordeal" changed from the first one to the second one.  thk u!!!i did some research and knew that the first meaning has some connection with the ordeals in middle-age europe

Answer

We started to use the word 'ordeal' to describe any difficult or painful experience metaphorically, and eventually this more general meaning became the primary one.

Answer

The meaning hasn't changed at all. It means the same to me.

Answer

eI guess it is true that it has not changed because if someone does not live through it, you do not say "they went through quite an ordeal as they died."  You only say it when they make it through.  If they die, you say something like, "what an awful death."  You must live through it to be an ordeal.

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