compurgator

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin compurgator or Middle French compurgateur, from Latin compurgō (“to purify”).

Noun

compurgator (plural compurgators)

  1. Someone who vouches for another person's innocence, trustworthiness etc.
    1. (now historical, law) A character witness in canon law who swore an oath that the accused was innocent.
      • 1971, Keith Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic, Folio Society, published 2012, page 244:
        If a wise woman fell under suspicion from the authorities her neighbours might rally to her defence, providing compurgators in court, or drawing up certificates testifying to her innocence.
    2. (historical, law) An ‘oath-helper’ in Anglo-Saxon or Germanic law who testified to the character of an accused person.
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