Plural autos-da-fé, improperly auto-da-fés. [The former, Pg. (also used in Fr.); the latter, Sp. (Pg. da of the, Sp. de of) = judicial sentence or act of (the) faith. Cf. ACT sb. 9 (The Portuguese form was first known in England.)]
1. A judicial ‘act’ or sentence of the Inquisition.
1723. Lond. Gaz., No. 6207/1. There will be an Auto da Fé in the Church of the Monastery of St. Dominick [in Lisbon].
1817. Byron, Juan, I. xxxii. note Wks. (1846), 594/2. Little less than an auto-da-fé was anticipated.
2. The execution of a sentence of the Inquisition; esp. the public burning of a heretic.
1727–41. Chambers, Cycl., Act of Faith, Auto da fe … a solemn day held by the inquisition, for the punishment of heretics, and the absolution of the innocent accused.
1771. Fletcher, Checks, Wks. 1795, II. 278. Papists call their burning of those whom they call heretics an auto de fe.
1839. Keightley, Hist. Eng., I. 333. The Inquisition, with its horrible autos-da-fé.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., II. xliii. 575. Busy in celebrating auto-da-fés and burning heretics.
