marrano
/məˈrɑnoʊ/
noun
- A historical term for a Spanish or Portuguese Jew who was forced to convert to Christianity but continued to practice Judaism in secret, especially during the Inquisition. (Note: This term is now considered offensive and is rarely used in modern contexts.)
- Historians study the lives of marranos to understand religious intolerance in medieval Spain.
- The marranos faced severe persecution if they were discovered practicing their faith.
- Many marranos eventually fled to other countries where they could openly be Jewish.
Synonyms