compurgator

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Archived revision by Ankitdimania (talk | contribs) as of 18:50, 2 April 2019.
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

Etymology

Lua error: Module:checkparams:215: The template Template:PIE root does not use the parameter(s): 

2=pewH

Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.

(deprecated template usage) From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Lua error in Module:parameters at line 239: Parameter 1 should be a valid language code; the value "ML." is not valid. See WT:LOL. compurgator or (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle French compurgateur, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin to purify.

Noun

compurgator (plural compurgators)

  1. (now historical, law) A character witness in canon law who swore an oath that the accused was innocent.
    • 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society 2012, p. 244:
      If a wise woman fell under suspicion from the authorities her neighbours might rally to her defence, providing compurgators in court, or drawing up certificates testifying to her innocence.
  2. (historical, law) An ‘oath-helper’ in Anglo-Saxon or Germanic law who testified to the character of an accused person.
  3. More generally, someone who vouches for another person's innocence, trustworthiness etc.
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=compurgator&oldid=52244442"