trial by ordeal
trial by ordeal · trials by ordeal
An archaic practice by which a person accused of a crime could prove their innocence…An archaic practice by which a person accused of a crime could prove their innocence by their survival of physically painful tests.
Meaning
1 senses(countable, uncountable)An archaic practice by which a person accused of a crime could prove their innocence by their survival of physically painful tests.
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
Translations
2 languagesForms
plural: trials by ordeal| Singular | trial by ordeal |
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| Plural | trials by ordeal |
irregular · Lesson
Synonyms
1 synonymsClose in 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:ordeal
Lessons for this word
2 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular
- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable