Origin: Latin suffix -ate
Ordinate has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
the value of a coordinate on the vertical axis
"The ordinate increased steadily as the temperature rose in our experiment."
The second of the two terms by which a point is referred to, in a system of fixed rectilinear coordinate (Cartesian coordinate) axes.
"To find the location of the star on our graph, we first plot its abscissa and then move vertically to mark its ordinate."
bring (components or parts) into proper or desirable coordination correlation
"align the wheels of my car"
"ordinate similar parts"
to ordain a priest, or consecrate a bishop
"The archbishop traveled to the remote village to ordinate three new priests for their upcoming mission work."
arranged regularly in rows; orderly; disposed or arranged in an orderly or regular fashion.
"The librarian carefully ordinated the returned books on the shelf, ensuring every title was placed exactly where it belonged in neat, uniform rows."
The word "ordinate" comes partly from Middle English and partly directly from Latin ordinatus, meaning "arranged in order." It is a doublet of the word "ordain," while one specific sense of the verb was formed by removing the suffix "-ation" from "ordination."