A severe or trying experience.

Roget 463: experiment; essay etc. (attempt) 675; analysis etc. (investigation) 461; screen; trial, tentative method, t=atonnement.    verification, probation, experimentum crucis [Lat.], proof, (demonstration) 478; criterion, diagnostic, test, probe, crucial test, acid test, litmus test.    crucible, reagent, check, touchstone, pix^†; assay, ordeal; ring; litmus paper, curcuma paper^†, turmeric paper; test tube; analytical instruments etc. 633.    empiricism, rule of thumb.    feeler; trial balloon, pilot balloon, messenger balloon; pilot engine; scout; straw to show the wind.    speculation, random shot, leap in the dark.    analyzer, analyst, assayist^†; adventurer; experimenter, experimentist^†, experimentalist; scientist, engineer, technician.    subject, experimentee^†, guinea pig, experimental animal.    [experimental method] protocol, experimental method, blind experiment, double-blind experiment, controlled experiment.    poll, survey, opinion poll.    epidemiological survey [Med.], retrospective analysis, retrospective survey, prospective survey, prospective analysis; statistical analysis.    literature search, library research.    tryout, audition.    [results of experiment] discovery etc. 480; measurement etc. 466; evidence etc. 467.    [reasoning about an experiment] deduction, induction, abduction.    ... show more

Roget 828: mental suffering, pain, dolor; suffering, sufferance; ache, smart etc. (physical pain) 378; passion.    displeasure, dissatisfaction, discomfort, discomposure, disquiet; malaise; inquietude, uneasiness, vexation of spirit; taking; discontent etc. 832.    dejection etc. 837; weariness etc. 841; anhedonia^†.    annoyance, irritation, worry, infliction, visitation; plague, bore; bother, botheration; stew, vexation, mortification, chagrin, esclandre [Fr.]; mauvais quart d'heur [Fr.].    care, anxiety, solicitude, trouble, trial, ordeal, fiery ordeal, shock, blow, cark^†, dole, fret, burden, load.    concern, grief, sorrow, distress, affliction, woe, bitterness, heartache; carking cares; heavy heart, aching heart, bleeding heart, broken heart; heavy affliction, gnawing grief.    unhappiness, infelicity, misery, tribulation, wretchedness, desolation; despair etc. 859; extremity, prostration, depth of misery.    nightmare, ephialtes^†, incubus.    pang, anguish, agony; torture, torment; purgatory etc. (hell) 982.    hell upon earth; iron age, reign of terror; slough of despond etc. (adversity) 735; peck of troubles; ills that flesh is heir to" etc. (evil) 619 [Hamlet]; miseries of human life; unkindest cut of all" [Julius Caesar]. sufferer, victim, prey, martyr, object of compassion, wretch, shorn lamb.    ... show more

Roget 992: sorcery; occult art, occult sciences; magic, the black art, necromancy, theurgy, thaumaturgy^†; demonology, demonomy^†, demonship^†; diablerie [Fr.], bedevilment; witchcraft, witchery; glamor; fetishism, fetichism, feticism^†; ghost dance, hoodoo; obi, obiism^†; voodoo, voodooism; Shamanism (Esquimaux), vampirism; conjuration; bewitchery, exorcism, enchantment, mysticism, second sight, mesmerism, animal magnetism; od force, odylic force^†; electrobiology^†, clairvoyance; spiritualism, spirit rapping, table turning.    divination etc. (prediction) 511; sortilege^†, ordeal, sortes Virgilianae^†; hocus-pocus etc. (deception) 545.    ... show more

Dutch: godsgericht, godsoordeel, kwelling, ordale, vuurdoop, vuurproef
Polish: udręczenie, udręka

A primitive method of determining a person's guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control; escape was usually taken as a sign of innocence.

synonym: trial by ordeal.

Dutch: ontbering
Polish: Sąd Boży, ordalia