Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A public executioner; a hangman; hence, as a term of abuse, a wretch.
- noun [capitalized] In ornithology: A genus of hawks: same as
Micrastur. Lesson , 1842. [Not in use.] A genus of birds: same asPhænicercus .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Antiq.) The public executioner at Rome, who executed persons of the lowest rank; hence, an executioner or hangman.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun an
executioner - noun a
butcher
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The lictor went off to make sure that the carnifex and his assistants would be standing by.
CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010
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After what seemed an eternity the carnifex called up that the job was done and Cicero went reluctantly to the hole and peered down.
CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010
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The miserable prisoners, yoked at the neck, their faces burned red by this sudden exposure to the sun after years of darkness, were led up one by one to the carnifex, who took them down into the Carcer and strangled them—thankfully out of sight, but still I could see that Cicero was keeping his face averted and talking fixedly to Hybrida.
CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010
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“No,” he said curtly, nodding to the carnifex, “you die a traitor.”
CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010
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As my eyes adjusted to the gloom I recognized Catulus, Piso, Torquatus, and Lepidus, with the folds of their togas pressed to their noses, and also the short and broad figure of the state executioner, the carnifex, in his leather apron, attended by half a dozen assistants.
CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010
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There they were made to wait beneath the gaze of the carnifex and his assistants, trembling at the thought of their fate, while the distant roars from the direction of the Triumphal Gate signaled that at last their conqueror had entered the city.
CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010
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We passed the porters with their handcarts waiting for work just beyond the gate, and the squat official residence of the carnifex, who, as public executioner, was forbidden to live within the precincts of the city.
CONSPIRATA ROBERT HARRIS 2010
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By the signs I expected them both to live, and I had what was needed to hand, in bark and roots gathered the night before, and herbs the old carnifex gave me, dried vervain and wormwood and seeds of parsley.
Wildfire Sarah Micklem 2009
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The carnifex of their clan was a vigorous old mudman who welcomed my arrival.
Wildfire Sarah Micklem 2009
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Right now it looks like Severian is on his way to get a job in Thrax (a city far away from Nessus) as it's carnifex (executioner).
Shadow & Claw (1980, 1981) 410 pages by Gene Wolfe John Loyd 2009
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