Guillotined: meaning, definitions and examples
⚔️
guillotined
[ɡɪl.ə.taɪnd ]
Definition
historical execution
To be guillotined means to be executed by a machine known as the guillotine. This device was primarily used during the French Revolution for the execution of criminals and political prisoners. The guillotine consists of a heavy blade that is dropped to behead the victim swiftly and efficiently. Its use symbolized the revolutionary ideals of equality before the law but also became a terrifying emblem of the Reign of Terror. The act of guillotining is often associated with large-scale executions and the harshness of revolutionary justice.
Synonyms
beheaded, executed, terminated.
Examples of usage
- Many prisoners were guillotined during the revolution.
- The last person to be guillotined in France was in 1977.
- He watched in horror as the condemned man was guillotined.
Interesting Facts
Historical Origins
- The guillotine was invented in France in the late 18th century and became a symbol of the French Revolution.
- Named after Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, who proposed it as a humane method of execution.
- It was used for public executions, reflecting the dramatic shift in attitudes toward justice and punishment.
Cultural Impact
- The image of the guillotine often appears in literature and film, symbolizing tyranny and the people's revolt against oppression.
- In modern culture, it remains a powerful metaphor for unjust or extreme measures used by authority figures.
Science and Technology
- The design of the guillotine was based on scientific principles, with the weight of the blade generating enough force to cause instant death.
- It has been studied in the context of biomechanics, illustrating how effectively it delivered a fatal blow.
Psychology
- The guillotine serves as a historical reminder of societal attitudes toward punishment and has influenced discussions on capital punishment.
- Research suggests that exposure to extreme historical events shapes cultural trauma, affecting societal perspectives on justice.
Politics
- During the Reign of Terror, thousands faced the guillotine, illustrating the dangers of political extremism and mob justice.
- Its use sparked debates on human rights, leading to movements advocating for more humane treatment of prisoners.
Translations
Translations of the word "guillotined" in other languages:
🇵🇹 guilhotinado
🇮🇳 गिलोटिन किया गया
🇩🇪 guilletiniert
🇮🇩 dieksekusi dengan guillotine
🇺🇦 гільйотинований
🇵🇱 ścięty gilotyną
🇯🇵 ギロチン処刑された
🇫🇷 guillotinée
🇪🇸 guillotinado
🇹🇷 giyotinle idam edilmiş
🇰🇷 기요틴 처형된
🇸🇦 مُقَطَّعٌ بِالْجِلْيُوتِين
🇨🇿 popravený gilotinou
🇸🇰 popravený gilotínou
🇨🇳 被断头台处决
🇸🇮 giljotinirano
🇮🇸 gilltínug
🇰🇿 гильотинмен өлтірілген
🇬🇪 გილიოტინით დახოცილი
🇦🇿 gilyotinlə edam olunmuş
🇲🇽 guillotinado