compurgationn.

1. The action of clearing a man from a charge or accusation by the oaths of a number of others (called from its use in the Canon Law, Purgatio canonica); also, more generally, Clearing or purgation from a charge, vindication; evidence or testimony to this effect.

2. esp. Applied by modern historians to the Old English mode of trial and purgation by means of the ǽwdan or consacramentales, then called áðfultum, ‘oath-help’ or ‘oath-support’ (in modern German Eideshülfe): see compurgator n. 1b.This mode of trial, so prevalent among the old Teutonic peoples, began to lose its importance as trial by Jury and other processes came up in the 12th cent., esp. after the Assize of Clarendon in 1166; but in privileged burghs, and in certain civil actions, e.g. for debt, it came down to modern times, being finally abolished only in 1833 by 2 & 3 Will. IV. c. 42 §13. But the term compurgation was not known to the Common Law, where the technical name was wager of law n. at wager n.² Phrases: the accused who claimed so to purge himself was said to wage his law (vadiare legem suam).