ordeal root

1 definition found

ordeal root - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Ordeal \Or"de*al\ ([^o]r"d[-e]*al), n. [AS. ord[=a]l, ord[=ae]l,
     a judgment; akin to D. oordeel, G. urteil, urtheil; orig.,
     what is dealt out, the prefix or- being akin to [=a]-
     compounded with verbs, G. er-, ur-, Goth. us-, orig. meaning,
     out. See Deal, v. & n., and cf. Arise, Ort.]
     1. An ancient form of test to determine guilt or innocence,
        by appealing to a supernatural decision, -- once common in
        Europe, and still practiced in the East and by savage
        tribes.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: In England ordeal by fire and ordeal by water were
           used, the former confined to persons of rank, the
           latter to the common people. The ordeal by fire was
           performed, either by handling red-hot iron, or by
           walking barefoot and blindfold over red-hot plowshares,
           laid at unequal distances. If the person escaped
           unhurt, he was adjudged innocent; otherwise he was
           condemned as guilty. The ordeal by water was performed,
           either by plunging the bare arm to the elbow in boiling
           water, an escape from injury being taken as proof of
           innocence, or by casting the accused person, bound hand
           and foot, into a river or pond, when if he floated it
           was an evidence of guilt, but if he sunk he was
           acquitted. It is probable that the proverbial phrase,
           to go through fire and water, denoting severe trial or
           danger, is derived from the ordeal. See Wager of battle
           , under Wager.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any severe trial, or test; a painful experience.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Ordeal bean. (Bot.) See Calabar bean, under Calabar.
  
     Ordeal root (Bot.) the root of a species of Strychnos
        growing in West Africa, used, like the ordeal bean, in
        trials for witchcraft.
  
     Ordeal tree (Bot.), a poisonous tree of Madagascar
        (Tanghinia venenata syn. Cerbera venenata). Persons
        suspected of crime are forced to eat the seeds of the
        plumlike fruit, and criminals are put to death by being
        pricked with a lance dipped in the juice of the seeds.
        [1913 Webster]