Ordinaries

In a historical context, 'ordinaries' refers to common or customary practices, beliefs, or occurrences that are typical of a specific time, place, or social group. It can also denote regular features, standard procedures, or the everyday routines of life. The term emphasizes what is usual, expected, and widely observed. This may involve regular events, specific roles or positions held in an organization or jurisdiction. It captures the mundane aspects of existence, as distinct from extraordinary or exceptional circumstances. Moreover, ordinaries can relate to a range of social activities and legal processes. They often reveal the norms and values that shape the social fabric of a community and represent the consistent pattern of actions and behavior within a certain system or culture.

Ordinaries meaning with examples

• The daily routines of the medieval peasants, like farming and attending church, represent the ordinaries of their lives. These customary practices formed the backbone of their existence, and defined their communities. The church bells rang, and the sun rose. This structure provided a sense of order and stability in a world often marked by uncertainty, or the changing of seasons.
• In the colonial era, the establishment of trade routes and the enforcement of laws by local authorities were considered the ordinaries of governance. These routines ensured the flow of goods, and helped maintain a society and culture of values and beliefs. Such functions defined the government's efficiency and were essential to economic prosperity as it grew from its inception.
• The liturgical practices and seasonal religious observations in a village were regarded as the ordinaries that unified the community's faith. These rituals served as shared experiences, and reinforced social ties, and gave people a sense of belonging. Prayers, hymns, and ceremonies, formed a cornerstone of life and culture in the village.
• The legal procedures, like trials and sentencing, followed by the courts, were the ordinaries of justice within the jurisdiction. These processes helped maintain law and order, and ensured the administration of justice and culture and beliefs. Without these standards, the societal construct would be thrown into disarray. These were common activities that defined the function of the court.
• The everyday financial transactions, such as buying and selling goods at the market, constituted the ordinaries of commerce. These business procedures fueled the local economy, and offered opportunities for trade and prosperity. Exchange, currency, and goods, were all an ordinary part of the economic system.