nounplural noun autos-da-fé

• 1The burning of a heretic by the Spanish Inquisition.

  ‘They are then dressed in the traditional garb for heretics punished in an auto-da-fé.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Impenitents - heretics burned at the stake during autos-da-fé - wore black san benitos decorated with devils and flames.’
  • ‘The recent autos-da-fé, however, should serve as reminders of the region's turbulent past and warnings of a possible return to violence and instability in the near future.’
  • ‘Putting down his tray, he let out a series of strangulated, guttural screams and jerked his arms in a chilling imitation of an auto-da-fé.’
  • ‘Pangloss explains that he wasn't burned as was customary at an auto-da-fé because of the rain.’

  1. 1.1A sentence condemning a person to an auto-da-fé.