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Webster 1913 Edition
Cyphonism
Cyph′o-nism
(s?fˊ?-n?z’m or s[GREEK]′f[GREEK]-)
, Noun.
[Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK], fr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] a crooked piece of wood, a sort of pillory, fr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK] bent, stooping.]
A punishment sometimes used by the ancients, consisting in the besmearing of the criminal with honey, and exposing him to insects. It is still in use among some Oriental nations.