The ORD function returns an integer value that is  the  position
  of  the  parameter  in  the  ordered  sequence  of values of the
  parameter's type.

  Syntax:

     ORD( x )

  The parameter 'x' must be of an ordinal  type.   Note  that  the
  ordinal  value  of  an INTEGER object is the integer itself.  If
  'x' is of type UNSIGNED, its value  must  not  be  greater  than
  MAXINT.