Definition of Ordeal tree. Meaning of Ordeal tree. Synonyms of Ordeal tree

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Definition of Ordeal tree

Ordeal tree
Ordeal Or"de*al ([^o]r"d[-e]*al), n. [AS. ord[=a]l, ord[=ae]l, a judgment; akin to D. oordeel, G. urteil, urtheil; orig., what is dealt out, the prefix or- being akin to [=a]- compounded with verbs, G. er-, ur-, Goth. us-, orig. meaning, out. See Deal, v. & n., and cf. Arise, Ort.] 1. An ancient form of test to determine guilt or innocence, by appealing to a supernatural decision, -- once common in Europe, and still practiced in the East and by savage tribes. Note: In England ordeal by fire and ordeal by water were used, the former confined to persons of rank, the latter to the common people. The ordeal by fire was performed, either by handling red-hot iron, or by walking barefoot and blindfold over red-hot plowshares, laid at unequal distances. If the person escaped unhurt, he was adjudged innocent; otherwise he was condemned as guilty. The ordeal by water was performed, either by plunging the bare arm to the elbow in boiling water, an escape from injury being taken as proof of innocence, or by casting the accused person, bound hand and foot, into a river or pond, when if he floated it was an evidence of guilt, but if he sunk he was acquitted. It is probable that the proverbial phrase, to go through fire and water, denoting severe trial or danger, is derived from the ordeal. See Wager of battle, under Wager. 2. Any severe trial, or test; a painful experience. Ordeal bean. (Bot.) See Calabar bean, under Calabar. Ordeal root (Bot.) the root of a species of Strychnos growing in West Africa, used, like the ordeal bean, in trials for witchcraft. Ordeal tree (Bot.), a poisonous tree of Madagascar (Tanghinia, or Cerbera, venenata). Persons suspected of crime are forced to eat the seeds of the plumlike fruit, and criminals are put to death by being pricked with a lance dipped in the juice of the seeds.

Meaning of Ordeal tree from wikipedia

- suaveolens or ordeal tree, named for its use in a trial by ordeal This disambiguation page lists articles ****ociated with the title Ordeal. If an internal...
- Erythrophleum lasianthum, the Ma****land ordeal tree, is a tree with a localized range in the endangered lowland forests of southeastern Africa. It is...
- Erythrophleum suaveolens, also known as the ordeal tree, is a species of flowering plant that can be found across most of tropical Africa. The species...
- that yields a potent poison that has been used for suicide and trials by ordeal. It is native to South and Southeast Asia and to Queensland, Australia,...
- breathing. For meals, she used a single-burner propane stove. Throughout her ordeal, she weathered freezing rains and 40 mph (64 km/h) winds from El Niño, helicopter...
- Calvaire (lit. Calvary, also known as The Ordeal) is a 2004 psychological horror film directed by Fabrice Du Welz, starring Laurent Lucas, Philippe Nahon...
- island for trials by ordeal, held in order to determine the guilt or innocence of an accused party. The tradition of the tangena ordeal, which has taken various...
- (Newtonia buchananii), Chirinda stinkwood (Celtis mildbraedii), Forest ordeal tree (Erythrophleum suaveolens), and Panga-panga (Millettia stuhlmannii),...
- consecrated for an Idol for the Mob to Worship; it was properly the Tree ordeal, where those, whom the Rioters pitched upon as State delinquents, were...
- Happy Tree Friends is an animated series created and developed by Rhode Montijo, Kenn Navarro, and Warren Graff for Mondo Media. A total of six seasons...