com·pur·ga·tion 
(k
ŏm
′p
ər-g
āsh
ən)
n. An ancient form of trial in which an accused person could call a number of people, usually 12, to swear to their belief in his or her innocence.
[Late Latin compūrgātiō, compūrgātiōn-, complete purification, from Latin compūrgātus, past participle of compūrgāre, to purify completely : com-, intensive pref.; see COM- + pūrgāre, to purify; see peuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]