be taken to execution as a form of intimidation; be punished or blamed along with the guilty
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
be taken to the execution ground as an intimidation tactic
archaicAn archaic legal/criminal punishment practice used for intimidation. The 'accompanying' prisoners were often not sentenced to die but were forced to witness the execution to pressure them into confession or surrender.
In the old society, some prisoners were taken to the execution ground as a form of intimidation to terrify other prisoners.
His crime was less serious, but he was also taken to the execution ground to experience its terror.
verb
be punished or blamed along with the guilty; get implicated
neutralA metaphorical extension of the original meaning. Now commonly used to describe situations where innocent people suffer consequences alongside the guilty, often due to collective punishment or unfair association.
Xiao Ming was caught cheating, and our entire group was punished—it's really being punished along with the guilty.
When the boss lost his temper, even those of us who did nothing wrong got scolded along with the guilty.
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This policy failure caused innocent citizens to suffer economic losses along with the responsible parties.