Lapidation (Noun)
Meaning
The act of pelting with stones; punishment inflicted by throwing stones at the victim (even unto death).
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The practice of lapidation was historically used to punish those found guilty of serious crimes, particularly in societies governed by strict moral codes.
- According to Islamic law, lapidation was traditionally a punishment for adultery and other forms of illicit sex.
- In the Middle Ages, lapidation was occasionally used to punish individuals accused of witchcraft or heresy.
- Lapidation is still considered an acceptable form of punishment in some countries for certain crimes, despite international human rights objections.
- During the 17th-century Salem witch trials in colonial Massachusetts, lapidation was one of the methods proposed for executing those convicted of witchcraft.