trial by ordeal

• Pratique judiciaire historique où la culpabilité ou l'innocence d'une personne était déterminée en la soumettant à une épreuve douloureuse ou dangereuse, comme marcher sur des charbons ardents ou être plongée dans l'eau, en croyant que l'intervention divine protégerait l'innocent. De nos jours, le terme est utilisé métaphoriquement pour décrire toute expérience extrêmement difficile ou pénible qui met à l'épreuve l'endurance d'une personne.

A historical judicial practice in which a person's guilt or innocence was determined by subjecting them to a painful or dangerous test, such as walking over hot coals or being submerged in water, with the belief that divine intervention would protect the innocent. The term is now used metaphorically to describe any extremely difficult or unpleasant experience that tests one's endurance.

1. Historical legal practiceC2formal

   A primitive judicial procedure in which the accused was subjected to a painful or dangerous test (such as fire or water) to determine guilt or innocence, based on divine intervention.

   épreuve judiciaire

   • In medieval Europe, trial by ordeal often involved holding a hot iron.
   • The accused was subjected to a trial by ordeal to prove their innocence.
   • Trial by ordeal was eventually replaced by more rational legal systems.

2. Difficult experienceB2informal

   A very difficult, unpleasant, or challenging experience that tests a person's endurance or character.

   épreuve difficile

   • The final exam was a real trial by ordeal for the students.
   • Living through the war was a trial by ordeal for the entire community.
   • The marathon felt like a trial by ordeal, but she finished it.