An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Orden

by Friedrich Kluge

Orden, m., ‘order, class, badge,’ from MidHG. orden, m., ‘rule, regulation, series, management, decree, rank, spiritual order’; borrowed from Lat. ordin-em (acc. of ordo), even in the OHG. period; comp. OHG. ordina, f., whence ordinhaft. The oblique case of the Lat. word determined the form of the OHG. term; so too in Kreuz, Abt, &c. —