ritual murder

American  

noun

1. a human sacrifice made to appease a deity.

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Etymology

Origin of ritual murder

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

There is an essay on the West Memphis Three, who were wrongfully imprisoned in the 1990s for the supposed ritual murder of three young boys.

From Slate • Apr. 8, 2014

To prove the charge of ritual murder, the prosecution had to produce witnesses and expert testimony.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2013

In 1905, pilgrims carrying everything on their backs had assembled it near a declivity used for Christian worship since about the 11th century, and possibly for ritual murder long before that.

From Washington Post

Nevertheless, the second half of the twelfth century witnessed the uprise of accusations of ritual murder and piercings of the host.

From Rashi by Szold, Adele

The severest among these were the ritual murder trials which became of frequent occurrence, tending to deepen the medieval gloom of that period.

From History of the Jews in Russia and Poland. Volume II From the death of Alexander I. until the death of Alexander III. (1825-1894) by Friedlaender, I.