headsman
Block and blade
A headsman is an executioner, specifically one who beheads condemned prisoners.
The term evokes the era of the axe and chopping block: The headsman raised his blade.
Now largely historical or literary, since beheading is no longer a common method of execution in most of the world.
Removal of head
- executionerOne who kills condemned
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- scaffoldTemporary elevated work structure
- axeBladed tool for chopping
blade · condemned · gallows · public execution · capital punishment · chopping block · severing · death blow
Intense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- hooded figureConcealed person in cloak
- grimHarsh and foreboding
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
trembling · final moments · doom · shadow · menace · awaiting · victim · pleading
Tall slender edifice
- dungeonSubterranean prison chamber
- castleFortified medieval residence
- feudalOf tiered landownership
- lordshipNoble rank or domain
fiefdom · treason · heretic · royal court · crown · sovereign · monarch · decree
Judicial examination of claims
- verdictOfficial court decision
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- condemnedOfficially declared unfit
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
retribution · judge · court · conviction · law · judicial · crime · guilty
beheading
Removal of head
- executionerOne who kills condemned
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- scaffoldTemporary elevated work structure
axe · blade · condemned · gallows · public execution · capital punishment · chopping block · severing · death blow · hood
dread
Intense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- hooded figureConcealed person in cloak
- grimHarsh and foreboding
foreboding · trembling · final moments · doom · shadow · menace · awaiting · victim · pleading · last words
tower
Tall slender edifice
lordship · fiefdom · treason · heretic · royal court · crown · sovereign · monarch · decree · sentence
trial
Judicial examination of claims
- verdictOfficial court decision
- sentenceComplete thought, grammatically
- condemnedOfficially declared unfit
punishment · retribution · judge · court · conviction · law · judicial · crime · guilty · judgement day
- medieval justicetrial by combat, trial by ordeal, trial by fire, trial by jury, ordeal
- executionsexecution, execution chamber, hanging, guillotine, executioner
headsmanjudge
One who decides
pardoner · defense attorney · defender · jury · magistrate