cruentation.

A historical belief that a corpse would bleed in the presence or at the touch of its killer.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• belief in cruentation
• an ordeal of cruentation

On the page

The chronicle treated cruentation as proof, while the modern investigator questioned the account.

The tale’s ordeal of cruentation began only after the accused entered the room.

Usage notes

Primary category: horror. Forms: Usually uncountable. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.