n.

1. 嚴峻考驗；苦難，折磨[C][S1]
   The parents went through a terrible ordeal when their child was kidnapped.

   當孩子遭到綁架時，父母親經受了一次可怕的折磨。

   Every plane crash is an ordeal for the surviving relatives.

   每次的空難對家屬而言都是個嚴酷的考驗。

2. 神裁法（古條頓族施行的判罪法，如將嫌疑犯的手浸入沸水中，受神主宰，手無損，則無罪）[U]

n.

1. a prolonged painful or horrific experience.
2. an ancient test of guilt or innocence by subjection of the accused to severe pain, survival of which was taken as divine proof of innocence.