Definition

Noun: 1. A public ceremony, especially during the Spanish Inquisition, involving the pronouncement of judgment by the Inquisition and the subsequent execution, typically by burning, of those condemned for heresy. The term specifically refers to the formal judicial act and its accompanying ritual, not solely the execution itself.

Usage

The word is used in historical contexts to describe a specific event of religious persecution. It is a formal term. - It functions as a singular noun. The plural form is autos-da-fe. - It is often preceded by verbs like hold, conduct, attend, or witness.

Examples

• The condemned prisoners were forced to participate in the auto-da-fe before their execution.
• Historical records describe several autos-da-fe held in Madrid during the 16th century.
• Attending an auto-da-fe was considered an act of faith and a public spectacle.

Advanced Usage / Notes

• The term is directly borrowed from Portuguese (, meaning "act of faith"). Its use in English is almost exclusively related to the history of the Iberian Inquisitions.
• While strongly associated with burning at the stake, an auto-da-fe could also involve other forms of public penance or punishment for those who repented.

Variants and Related Words

• Inquisition (n): The tribunal or institution responsible for discovering and punishing heresy, which conducted the autos-da-fe.
• Heresy (n): Belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious doctrine, the charge for which people were condemned in an auto-da-fe.
• Execution (n): The act of carrying out a death sentence, which was the final part of the auto-da-fe ceremony.

Synonyms

• Execution (specifically by burning)
• Act of faith (literal translation, used historically)

Related Phrases / Idioms

There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs using this specific, historical term.

Noun

1. the burning to death of heretics (as during the Spanish Inquisition)