Definitions for: Martyr


[n] one who suffers for the sake of principle
[n] one who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty for refusing to renounce their religion
[v] make into a martyr
[v] kill as a martyr; "Saint Sebastian was martyred"



Webster (1913) Definition: Mar"tyr, n. [AS., from L. martyr, Gr. ma`rtyr, ma`rtys,
prop., a witness; cf. Skr. sm[.r] to remember, E. memory.]
1. One who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the
gospel; one who is put to death for his religion; as,
Stephen was the first Christian martyr. --Chaucer.

To be a martyr, signifies only to witness the truth
of Christ; but the witnessing of the truth was then
so generally attended with persecution, that
martyrdom now signifies not only to witness, but to
witness by death --South.

2. Hence, one who sacrifices his life, his station, or what
is of great value to him, for the sake of principle, or to
sustain a cause.

Then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell, Thou fall'st a
blessed martyr ! --Shak.


Mar"tyr, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Martyred; p. pr. & vb.
n. Martyring.]
1. To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp.
Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or
profession. --Bp. Pearson.

2. To persecute; to torment; to torture. --Chaucer.

The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart Thou martyrest
with sorrow and with smart. --Spenser.

Racked with sciatics, martyred with the stone.
--Pope.

Synonyms: martyrise, martyrize, sufferer

See Also: Becket, excruciate, George, Jeanne d'Arc, Joan of Arc, kill, Laurentius, Lawrence, Saint George, Saint Joan, Saint Lawrence, Saint Thomas a Becket, St George, St Lawrence, St Thomas a Becket, St Vitus, Thomas a Becket, Tindal, Tindale, torment, torture, Tyndale, victim, Vitus, William Tindal, William Tindale, William Tyndale

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