Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AUTO-DA-FE, n. [Auto da fé. Port. act of faith.]

1. In the Romish church, a solemn day held by the Inquisition, for the punishment of heretics, and the absolution of the innocent accused. Span. Auto de fé. – Encyc.
2. A sentence given by the Inquisition, and read to a criminal, or heretic, on the scaffold, just before he is executed. – Sp. Dict.
3. The session of the court of Inquisition.