1. (n.) The act of nailing or fastening a person to a cross, for the purpose of putting him to death; the use of the cross as a method of capital punishment.

2. (n.) The state of one who is nailed or fastened to a cross; death upon a cross.

3. (n.) Intense suffering or affliction; painful trial.

agony anguish atrocious pain beheading burning capital punishment clawing cruciation decapitation decollation defenestration electrocution excruciation execution fusillade garrote gassing hanging hell hell upon earth hemlock holocaust horror judicial murder laceration lancination lapidation martyrdom martyrization necktie party nightmare passion persecution poisoning purgatory rack shooting stoning strangling strangulation the ax the block the chair the gallows the gas chamber the guillotine the hot seat the rope torment torture