ORDEAL
Dictionary entry overview: What does ordeal mean? • ORDEAL (noun)
The noun ORDEAL has 2 senses:
1. a severe or trying experience
2. 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
Familiarity information: ORDEAL used as a noun is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• ORDEAL (noun)
Meaning:
A severe or trying experience
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Hypernyms ("ordeal" is a kind of...):
experience (an event as apprehended)
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
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
trial by ordeal; ordeal
Hypernyms ("ordeal" is a kind of...):
trial ((law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law)
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