TRIAL BY ORDEAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A primitive method of determining a person's guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control; escape was usually taken as a sign of innocence

Synonyms:

ordeal; trial by ordeal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("trial by ordeal" is a kind of...):

trial ((law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law)

Credits