Decapitation (Noun)
Meaning 1
Killing by cutting off the head.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The beheading of the king was a brutal act of decapitation that sent shockwaves throughout the kingdom.
- Historians have long debated whether the account of the queen's decapitation is based on truth or myth.
- The use of a guillotine became infamous during the French Revolution for its swift and often public method of decapitation.
- Decapitation was a common method of execution in ancient times due to the gruesome warning it sent to would-be offenders.
- In medieval Europe, decapitation was typically reserved for those of noble birth, while commoners were more likely to be hanged.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Execution by cutting off the victim's head.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The form of execution used in medieval Europe often included decapitation by guillotine or sword.
- Anne Boleyn's fate was sealed when she was accused of adultery and met her end by decapitation on Tower Green.
- Throughout history, beheading by decapitation was a punishment typically reserved for those of higher social status.
- The French Revolution employed decapitation as the standard method for carrying out public executions.
- In Japan, the practice of seppuku, often accompanied by decapitation, was considered a more honorable death for samurai warriors.