Main Entry: au·to–da–fé

Pronunciation: \ˌau̇-tō-də-ˈfā, ˌȯ-tō-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural au·tos–da–fé \-tōz-də-\

Etymology: Portuguese auto da fé, literally, act of the faith

Date: 1723

: the ceremony accompanying the pronouncement of judgment by the Inquisition and followed by the execution of sentence by the secular authorities; broadly : the burning of a heretic