Compurgation meaning

kŏmpər-gāshən
An ancient form of trial in which an accused person could call a number of people, usually 12, to swear to their belief in his or her innocence.
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The former practice of clearing an accused person by the oaths of others testifying to that person's innocence.
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(now chiefly historical) Acquitting someone from a formal charge or accusation following the sworn oaths of a number of other people; vindication.
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Origin of compurgation

  • Late Latin compūrgātiō compūrgātiōn- complete purification from Latin compūrgātus past participle of compūrgāre to purify completely com- intensive pref. com– pūrgāre to purify peuə- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin compurgātiōnem, from compurgāre (“to purify”).

    From Wiktionary