Definition

1. Verb:
   • To throw stones at someone or something, especially as a form of punishment or execution: The primary meaning of "lapidate" is to pelt with stones. Historically, this action was a method of capital punishment.
   • To kill by pelting with stones: This is the specific result of the act of lapidation.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • The angry crowd threatened to lapidate the criminal. (The angry crowd threatened to throw stones at the criminal.)
  • In some ancient societies, they would lapidate individuals found guilty of adultery. (In some ancient societies, they would execute by stoning individuals found guilty of adultery.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be lapidated": to be executed by stoning. This is the passive form, describing the fate of the victim.
  • The condemned woman was to be lapidated at dawn. (The condemned woman was to be executed by stoning at dawn.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lapidation (n): The act or process of killing by stoning.
  • Lapidation was a brutal form of execution. (Stoning was a brutal form of execution.)

Synonyms

• Stone (v): To throw stones at; to kill or drive away by throwing stones.
  • The mob attempted to stone the heretic.
• Pelt (v): To hurl missiles, often repeatedly.
  • Protesters pelted the building with rocks.

Different Meanings

• Figurative/Modern Usage: While rare, "lapidate" can be used metaphorically to describe a harsh verbal or critical attack, though this is not its primary definition.
  • The critic's review was so harsh it felt like he was trying to lapidate the author's reputation. (This usage is extended and literary.)

Notes

• Formality and Rarity: "Lapidate" is a formal, technical, and relatively rare word in modern English. The more common verb for this action is "to stone."
• Context: It is almost exclusively used in historical, legal, or religious contexts discussing punishment.

Verb

1. throw stones at
   • Pilgrims lapidate a stone pillar in commemoration of Abraham's temptation
2. kill by throwing stones at
   • People wanted to stone the woman who had a child out of wedlock