[QUOTE=xilman;394789]...
I am firmly of the opinion that there should be material on tests which has not been explicitly predicted to be there. My degree course (chemistry at Oxford) had only the vaguest of formal syllabus and the only (implicit) expectation about the contents of the examinations was that it would be at least 80% in common with those set in the previous few years. We were expected to educate ourselves, not memorize pre-ordained facts.[/QUOTE]

I agree about it being one's own responsibility to educate oneself.
By pre-ordained, you mean pre-selected, not that facts are ordained, I assume.

[QUOTE=davar55;394893]I agree about it being one's own responsibility to educate oneself.
By pre-ordained, you mean pre-selected, not that facts are ordained, I assume.[/QUOTE]I meant ordained, though selected would work just as well. According to Chambers, the verb [i]to ordain[/i] is to arrange: to establish: to decree: to destine: to order: to assign, set apart for an office: to invest with ministerial functions; to admit to holy orders.

The first through fourth of those are all relevant to the present case.

[QUOTE=xilman;394899]I meant ordained, though selected would work just as well. According to Chambers, the verb [I]to ordain[/I] is to arrange: to establish: to decree: to destine: to order: to assign, set apart for an office: to invest with ministerial functions; to admit to holy orders.

The first through fourth of those are all relevant to the present case.[/QUOTE]

Chambers? I use an american college dictionary off-line. I would avoid ordain in your context
because of the religion associations. Last does not mean least. Pre-ordained means destined,
and that is not the connotation you want in your sentence. No?

(And if the first word of your response is "no" ...)

[QUOTE=davar55;394905]Chambers? I use an american college dictionary off-line.[B] I would avoid ordain in your context
because of the religion associations.[/B] Last does not mean least. Pre-ordained means destined,
and that is not the connotation you want in your sentence. No?

(And if the first word of your response is "no" ...)[/QUOTE]

Aside from regional differences, I suspect that there is a whiff of irony in this usage.

[QUOTE=davar55;394905]Pre-ordained means destined,[/QUOTE]Once again you are so convinced that your limited vocabulary is sufficient that you deny the widespread application of other definitions in conflict with it.

As to whether yiour irony detector needs recalibrating, I'll leave that to your judgement.

[QUOTE=xilman;394925]Once again you are so convinced that your limited vocabulary is sufficient that you deny the widespread application of other definitions in conflict with it.
As to whether your irony detector needs recalibrating, I'll leave that to your judgment.[/QUOTE]

Everyone has a limited vocabulary. I can't count the number of words in
my vocabulary on the fingers of one ... uhmm ... what's that thing the fingers
connect to? ... saw an avatar once ... can't remember where ...

I don't deny the other definition of ordain, but connotations do count in my choice of words.
You can use any words you choose. Or select. But ordain? I think that's pushing it...

[QUOTE=davar55;394940]Everyone has a limited vocabulary. I can't count the number of words in
my vocabulary on the fingers of one ... uhmm ... what's that thing the fingers
connect to? ... saw an avatar once ... can't remember where ...

I don't deny the other definition of ordain, but connotations do count in my choice of words.
You can use any words you choose. Or select. But ordain? I think that's pushing it...[/QUOTE]
But is so pretty:
[QUOTE]We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do [B]ordain[/B] and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=only_human;394942]But is so pretty:[/QUOTE]

I agree, it's a beautiful line, ordain meaning in the sense of order/decree/command.
Pre-ordained means pre-destined to me, hence there are no pre-ordained facts,
but I suppose that's a personal valuation.

[QUOTE=davar55;394954]I agree, it's a beautiful line, ordain meaning in the sense of order/decree/command.
Pre-ordained means pre-destined to me, hence there are no pre-ordained facts,
but I suppose that's a personal valuation.[/QUOTE]
Your personal valuation may not be completely posterous.

[QUOTE=only_human;394984]Your personal valuation may not be completely posterous.[/QUOTE]

I hope not.

[QUOTE=davar55;394986]I hope not.[/QUOTE]
I think I should also avoid prepostumous.

portmanteau: (n.) cf. starboardmanteau