auto-da-fé

[aw-toh-duh-fey] /ˌɔ toʊ dəˈfeɪ/
noun, plural autos-da-fé.
1.
the public declaration of the judgment passed on persons tried in the courts of the the Spanish Inquisition, followed by the execution by the civil authorities of the sentences imposed, especially the burning of condemned heretics at the stake.
Origin
1715-25; < Portuguese: act of the faith
British Dictionary definitions for auto-da-fé

auto-da-fé

/ˌɔːtəʊdəˈfeɪ/
noun (pl) autos-da-fé
1.
(history) a ceremony of the Spanish Inquisition including the pronouncement and execution of sentences passed on sinners or heretics
2.
the burning to death of people condemned as heretics by the Inquisition
Word Origin
C18: from Portuguese, literally: act of the faith
Word Origin and History for auto-da-fé

auto-da-fe

n.

1723, "sentence passed by the Inquisition" (plural autos-da-fé), from Portuguese auto-da-fé "judicial sentence or act of the faith," especially the public burning of a heretic, from Latin actus de fide, literally "act of faith." Although the Spanish Inquisition is better-known today, there also was one in Portugal.