Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1. 
 a primitive method of determining a person's guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control; 
 escape was usually taken as a sign of innocence; 
[syn: ordeal, trial by ordeal]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
trial by ordeal
    n 1: a primitive method of determining a person's guilt or
         innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or
         painful tests believed to be under divine control; escape
         was usually taken as a sign of innocence [syn: ordeal,
         trial by ordeal]