Legal Definitions - elinguation

Elinguation refers to a severe historical punishment involving the cutting out of a person's tongue.

Examples:

• In a fictional ancient empire, a renowned orator publicly delivers speeches criticizing the emperor's rule, inciting unrest among the populace. To silence this voice of dissent permanently and deter others from similar acts of sedition, the emperor's decree orders the elinguation of the orator.

  This example illustrates elinguation as a brutal method used by authorities to suppress political opposition and prevent individuals from speaking out against the ruling power.

• During a period of intense religious persecution in a historical kingdom, an individual is accused of blasphemy and spreading doctrines deemed heretical by the dominant church. As a punishment for uttering forbidden words and to prevent the further dissemination of what was considered dangerous speech, the ecclesiastical court sentences the accused to elinguation.

  Here, elinguation is shown as a severe penalty for religious offenses, aimed at silencing individuals whose speech was perceived as a threat to established religious authority.