ordeal
n.a very difficult, painful, or unpleasant experience that lasts for a long time. You use this word when something was much harder to get through than a normal problem.
n.an extremely severe or trying experience that tests a person's endurance or character. Historically refers to an ancient form of trial by physical test, but in modern usage, it describes any prolonged stressful event.
“The long flight was a real ordeal for the small children.”
“After being lost in the mountains for three days, the hikers were finally rescued, ending their terrifying ordeal.”
“The survivors of the shipwreck recounted their harrowing ordeal to the press, describing the weeks spent adrift with dwindling supplies and little hope of discovery.”
Often paired with adjectives like 'harrowing', 'terrible', or 'long' to emphasize the difficulty of the experience.
“For years many of the women kept their ordeal - their shame - secret.”
From Middle English ordel, ordal, from Medieval Latin ordālium or inherited from its source Old English ordēl, ordāl (“ordeal, judgement”), from Proto-West Germanic uʀdailī (“judgement”, literally “an out-dealing”), from uʀdailijan (“to deal out; dispense”). For more, see Old English or-, English deal. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Uurdeel (“judgement; verdict”), West Frisian oardiel (“judgement”), Dutch oordeel (“judgement, discretion”), Low German Oordeel (“judgement; verdict”), German Urteil (“judgement, verdict”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.