crucifixion

/ˈkrusəˌfɪkʃən/

/krusɪˈfɪkʃən/

Other forms: crucifixions

Crucifixion was a method of execution that involved leaving a person tied or nailed to a beam until they died. The ancient Romans used crucifixion as a public way to punish enemies.

In ancient Rome, crucifixion was a terrible and gruesome way to publicly punish treason, piracy, and crimes committed by enslaved people against their enslavers. The word comes from Latin roots crux, meaning "cross," and figere, meaning "fasten." Crucifixion, essentially fastening a person to a large cross, is most commonly associated with Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified after being convicted of the crime of blasphemy.

Definitions of crucifixion

1. noun

   the act of executing by a method widespread in the ancient world; the victim's hands and feet are bound or nailed to a cross
   type of:

   capital punishment, death penalty, executing, execution

   putting a condemned person to death
2. noun

   the infliction of extremely painful punishment or suffering
   synonyms: excruciation

   type of:

   torture, torturing

   the deliberate, systematic, or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons in an attempt to force another person to yield information or to make a confession or for any other reason