ordeal

• Expérience très difficile, douloureuse ou éprouvante que l'on doit traverser ; ou historiquement, épreuve primitive servant à déterminer la culpabilité ou l'innocence par des dangers supposés placés sous contrôle divin.

A noun referring to a severe, painful, or trying experience, or historically, a primitive method of determining guilt or innocence through dangerous tests believed to be under divine control.

1. Difficult experienceB2formal

   A very unpleasant and prolonged experience that tests a person's endurance.

   épreuve pénible

   • The long illness was a terrible ordeal for the whole family.
   • She described her ordeal in court with great composure.
   • Surviving the shipwreck was a harrowing ordeal.

   Synonymesadversitydifficultyhardshipnightmaretesttraumatrialtribulation

   Antonymesblessingcomfortdelightjoypleasuretreat

2. Historical trial methodC1formal

   An ancient practice where a person's guilt or innocence was determined by subjecting them to dangerous tests, with survival considered a sign of innocence.

   Ordalie (épreuve judiciaire)

   • In medieval times, trial by ordeal often involved carrying hot iron.
   • The ordeal of water was used to judge witches in some cultures.
   • Historians study ordeals as part of early legal systems.

   Synonymestrial by ordeal