auto-da-fe

A noun referring to the public burning of heretics, particularly associated with the Spanish Inquisition.

• 🇩🇪Öffentliche Verbrennung von Ketzern, insbesondere im Zusammenhang mit der spanischen Inquisition; auch allgemein eine öffentliche Hinrichtung oder ein Autodafé.

1. Public burning of heretics C2 formal

   A historical ceremony, particularly during the Spanish Inquisition, where heretics were publicly burned at the stake.

   • The auto-da-fe was a grim spectacle of religious intolerance.
   • Many victims of the Spanish Inquisition met their end in an auto-da-fe.
   • Historical accounts describe the auto-da-fe as a public event intended to enforce religious orthodoxy.

   🇩🇪Öffentliche Verbrennung von Ketzern

   Synonyme: burning at the stakeimmolation

• autos-da-fe plural form
• autos-da-fe's possessive plural form
• auto-da-fe's possessive singular form