Compurgation

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Compurgation \Com`pur*ga"tion\, n. [L. compurgatio, fr.
     compurgare to purify wholly; com- + purgare to make pure. See
     Purge, v. t.]
     1. (Law) The act or practice of justifying or confirming a
        man's veracity by the oath of others; -- called also
        {wager of law}. See {Purgation}; also {Wager of law},


        under {Wager}.
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     2. Exculpation by testimony to one's veracity or innocence.
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              He was privileged from his childhood from suspicion
              of incontinency and needed no compurgation. --Bp.
                                                    Hacket.
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