sanbenito

American  

[san-buh-nee-toh] / ˌsæn bəˈni toʊ /

noun

plural

sanbenitos

1. an ornamented garment worn by a condemned heretic at an auto-da-f é.

2. a penitential garment worn by a confessed heretic, of yellow for the penitent, of black for the impenitent.

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sanbenito British  

/ ˌsænbəˈniːtəʊ /

noun

1. a yellow garment bearing a red cross, worn by penitent heretics in the Inquisition

2. a black garment bearing flames and devils, worn by impenitent heretics at an auto-da-fé

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Etymology

Origin of sanbenito

1550–60; < Spanish, named after San Benito Saint Benedict, from its resemblance to the scapular believed to have been introduced by him

Example Sentences

Go hang thyself, coward, or, if you choose, swim out to the Spaniard, and shift from thy wet doublet and hose into a sanbenito.

From To Have and to Hold by Johnston, Mary

Then came many penitents, their heads shaven, their feet bare, and clad, some in dark-coloured cloaks, some in yellow robes, called the sanbenito, which were adorned with a red cross.

From Fair Margaret by Haggard, Henry Rider

They were completely purged of it, having done penance in proper form at an Auto held on the Rocio at Lisbon, candle in hand and sanbenito on their shoulders.

From The Sea-Hawk by Sabatini, Rafael

He is dressed in the sanbenito, a yellow garment, with pictures of devils kindling a fire and burning faggots, and on his head is a fantastic conical cap of pasteboard, called the coroza.

From The Story of Seville by Hartley, C. Gasquoine (Catherine Gasquoine)

"I derived the notion," he continued, "from a sanbenito in a Goya picture."

From The Historical Nights' Entertainment First Series by Sabatini, Rafael