Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
Intensive rough interrogation in order to extract information or a confession
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
interrogation often accompanied by torture to extort information or a confession
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: interrogation, examination, interrogatory
History
Attested from 1900. The phrase, meaning "intense interrogation by police," likely refers to the Third Degree of Master Mason in Freemasonry, the ceremony for which included an interrogation. Alternatively, it reflects the practice of interrogation under torture, where three degrees of torture were recognized, of increasing intensity. In other contexts, three degrees of interrogation were recognised, with torture being the third degree.
Across languages
5 source translations are retained for this English entry.
