In English and Spanish, there are words that are the same, with the same etymology, with the same meaning, but more currency in one language than in the other. A case in point to illustrate this idea is the words "ordeal" and "ordalía".
ORDEAL: "a primitive form of trial to determine guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to fire, poison, or other serious danger, the result being regarded as a divine or preternatural judgment."
ORDALÍA: "Prueba ritual usada en la Europa medieval y en ciertas sociedades para averiguar la culpabilidad o inocencia de una persona acusada y una de cuyas formas es el juicio de Dios."
Both definitions are similar, but English dictionaries give an additional one: "any extremely severe or trying test, experience, or trial." For this additional meaning, we must use the Spanish "calvario", (padecimiento muy intenso y prolongado) instead of "ordeal" because the Spanish "ordalía" is mostly unknown and unused, although the same. For example: "Living with you has been an ordeal." "Vivir contigo ha sido un calvario."
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