ordinary

Think of the word ordinary as the opposite of 'extraordinary.' It describes the things you see every day that don't particularly stand out. If you have a plain glass of water, that is an ordinary object.

We use this word when we want to describe something that is standard or typical. It isn't necessarily a bad thing to be ordinary; it just means something is part of the regular flow of life. It’s the 'normal' baseline for our world.

When you describe a person as an ordinary person, you usually mean they are a regular, down-to-earth human being. It implies they are relatable and not trying to be flashy or showy. It’s a very useful word for keeping your descriptions grounded in reality.

The word ordinary has a long history, coming to us from the Latin word ordinarius, which meant 'orderly' or 'arranged in order.' This is directly related to the word ordo, which means 'order' or 'rank.'

In the Middle Ages, the word was used to describe things that followed a set rule or a specific order. For example, an 'ordinary' in church terms was a person who held office by virtue of their rank, rather than by a special appointment.

Over centuries, the meaning shifted from 'having an order' to 'being common' or 'usual.' It’s fascinating how the concept of 'order' evolved into the concept of 'average.' It shows how we humans tend to view things that follow the rules or the standard path as the most common things in our lives.

You can use ordinary to describe almost anything—people, objects, days, or events. It is a very versatile adjective that fits well in both casual conversations and professional writing.

Commonly, we say things like 'an ordinary day' or 'an ordinary person.' It is a neutral word, meaning it doesn't usually carry a strong positive or negative emotion unless you add tone to it. For instance, saying 'He is just an ordinary guy' can sound respectful, but 'It was a very ordinary performance' might sound a bit critical.

In formal settings, you might see it used in legal or academic contexts to mean 'the standard or usual procedure.' It is a staple of everyday English that helps us distinguish the mundane from the remarkable.

1. Out of the ordinary: Something unusual or unexpected. Example: 'Nothing out of the ordinary happened today.'
2. Ordinary Joe/Jane: A regular, average person. Example: 'He is just an ordinary Joe who likes sports.'
3. Above the ordinary: Better than average. Example: 'Her skill level is well above the ordinary.'
4. In the ordinary course of events: How things usually happen. Example: 'In the ordinary course of events, we would have finished by now.'
5. Ordinary run of things: The normal way things go. Example: 'It was a surprise, given the ordinary run of things.'

Ordinary is an adjective, so it usually comes before a noun (e.g., 'an ordinary task'). It can also follow linking verbs like 'is' or 'seems' (e.g., 'The day seemed ordinary').

Pronunciation varies slightly. In US English, it's typically OR-din-air-ee (/ˈɔːrdənɛri/). In UK English, the 'a' sound is often shorter, and the 'r' is less pronounced. The stress is always on the first syllable.

It doesn't have a plural form because it's an adjective. However, you can use the adverb form ordinarily to describe how something is done. It rhymes with words like 'secondary,' 'legendary,' and 'voluntary.'