auto-da-fé

noun

au·​to-da-fé ˌau̇-tō-də-ˈfā 

ˌȯ-tō-

plural autos-da-fé ˌau̇-tōz-də-ˈfā 

ˌȯ-tōz-

: the ceremony for pronouncing judgment by the Inquisition which was followed by the execution of sentence by secular authorities

broadly : the burning of a heretic

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese auto da fé, literally, act of the faith

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above