Compurgation — Compurgation, also called wager of law, is a defence used primarily in medieval law. A defendant could establish his innocence or nonliability by taking an oath and by getting a required number of persons, typically twelve, to swear they believed … Wikipedia
compurgation — I noun absolution, acquittal, acquittance, alibi, benefit of doubt, clearance, defeat of the prosecution, defense, dismissal, exculpation, excuse, exoneration, favorable verdict to the defendant, innocence, just cause, justification, legal… … Law dictionary
compurgation — [käm΄pər gā′shən] n. [LL compurgatio, a purifying < L compurgatus, pp. of compurgare, to purge, purify < com , intens. + purgare, to PURGE] the former practice of clearing an accused person by the oaths of others testifying to that person s … English World dictionary
compurgation — /kom peuhr gay sheuhn/, n. an early common law method of trial in which the defendant is acquitted on the sworn endorsement of a specified number of friends or neighbors. [1650 60; < ML compurgation (s. of compurgatio), equiv. to com COM +… … Universalium
compurgation — noun Etymology: Late Latin compurgation , compurgatio, from Latin compurgare to clear completely, from com + purgare to purge Date: circa 1658 the clearing of an accused person by oaths of others who swear to the veracity or innocence of the… … New Collegiate Dictionary
Compurgation — At the heart of AS law and custom was the oath which was considered sacred. Compurgation involved the accused person swearing his innocence; at the same time he had to produce a number of other people willing also to swear to the accused s… … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
compurgation — n. method of trial in which a defendant is acquitted if a specific number of friends and family swear upon the his/her innocence … English contemporary dictionary
compurgation — [ˌkɒmpə: geɪʃ(ə)n] noun Law, historical acquittal from a charge or accusation obtained by statements of innocence given by witnesses under oath. Origin C17: from med. L. compurgatio(n ), from L. compurgare, from com (expressing intensive force) + … English new terms dictionary
Compurgation — ♦ The process of establishing innocence, or failing to, in an ecclesiastical court, whereby six or usually a dozen men swear to the truth of the accused s assertion of innocence. (Heath, Peter. Church and Realm, 1272 1461, 361) … Medieval glossary
compurgation — com·pur·ga·tion … English syllables
