martyr-
(Greek: (martus, martur-); Late Greek: (martur); Late Ecclesiastical Latin (martyr), Old English (martyr), Middle English (martir); witness)
Adopted directly into most Germanic languages, but Old Norse substituted native formation pislarvattr, literally, "torture-witness".
1. Someone who chooses to suffer death rather than to renounce his or her religious principles: Many early Christians are believed to have been martyrs because of their beliefs.
2. A person who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to further a belief, a cause, or a principle: Jason's cousin was a martyr because of his efforts to save the woman who was drowning when her car swerved off the road into the river.
4. Those who make a great show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy: Mark said he was a martyr at his job because he was required to work harder than normally in order to complete his assigned projects.
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2. A person who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to further a belief, a cause, or a principle: Jason's cousin was a martyr because of his efforts to save the woman who was drowning when her car swerved off the road into the river.
Madelyn served as a martyr because she donated so much time and effort at least three times a week to feed the homeless people in her community.
3. Anyone who endures great suffering: Marge was a martyr to arthritis.4. Those who make a great show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy: Mark said he was a martyr at his job because he was required to work harder than normally in order to complete his assigned projects.
Most original martyrs died instead of renouncing their religious beliefs.
The Greeks gave us the word which meant "witness (for Christ)". Those who went around preaching the gospel in the early days of Christianity often had to suffer stoning, crucifixion, or maybe become victims of gladiators or lions in the arenas by the less-than-tolerant Romans.
As a result of such treatment, the word martyr has become associated with suffering and death for a belief or for trying to do something that is considered to be a worthy cause."
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martyr (verb), martyrs; martyred; martyring
1. To kill someone for holding certain beliefs: "The woman was martyred because she refused to become a member of another religious group."
2. To kill somebody for refusing to deny a strongly held belief; especially, a religious belief: "The terrorists were in the process of martyring a young girl because she was publicly known in Pakistan to advocate education for all girls."
3. To bring difficulties, suffering, or hardship on oneself for a belief: "The young man said he was willing to martyr himself, if necessary, in order to overthrow the ruler of his country."
2. To kill somebody for refusing to deny a strongly held belief; especially, a religious belief: "The terrorists were in the process of martyring a young girl because she was publicly known in Pakistan to advocate education for all girls."
3. To bring difficulties, suffering, or hardship on oneself for a belief: "The young man said he was willing to martyr himself, if necessary, in order to overthrow the ruler of his country."
1. Conditions, sufferings, or death for a cause.
2. Extreme suffering or torment.
2. Extreme suffering or torment.
martyred (adjective) (not comparable)
1. A shrine erected in memory of a martyr.
2. A church or other edifice built at a site, especially a tomb, associated with a Christian saint.
2. A church or other edifice built at a site, especially a tomb, associated with a Christian saint.
martyrize, martyrizes, martyrized, martyrizing, martyrization,
1. To make a martyr of; especially, by causing to suffer, to torment.: "The ancient Romans martyrized many Christians."
2. To torment and torture like a martyr. Also spelled, especially British, as martyrise.
2. To torment and torture like a martyr. Also spelled, especially British, as martyrise.
martyrly (adjective), more martyrly, most martyrly
In the manner of, resembling, or characteristic of a someone who suffers or is killed because of his religious or political beliefs.
A veneraton or worship of a person who has died for his or her beliefs: "Martyrolatry is considered to be an excessive devotion to martyrs."
A list, register, or book about those who have died for their beliefs.
martyrologic (adjective), more martyrologic, most martyrologic
1. Pertaining to martyrology or martyrs; registering, or registered in, a catalogue of martyrs.
2. Alternate of martyrological.
2. Alternate of martyrological.
martyrological (adjective), more martyrological, most martyrological
Pertaining to sacrifices made by people: "There are martyrological books or lists that refer to martyrs."
1. A writer of martyrology.
2. An historian of martyrs.
3. Someone who specializes in the accounts of the lives and manners of the deaths of martyrs.
4. A writer of or a specialist in martyrology.
2. An historian of martyrs.
3. Someone who specializes in the accounts of the lives and manners of the deaths of martyrs.
4. A writer of or a specialist in martyrology.
1. The branch of historical knowledge dealing with the lives of martyrs.
2. A history of religious martyrs.
3. Such histories collectively.
4. A list or catalogue of martyrs.
5. An account of the life and manner of the death of a martyr.
6. The branch of ecclesiastical history or hagiography that deals with martyrs.
2. A history of religious martyrs.
3. Such histories collectively.
4. A list or catalogue of martyrs.
5. An account of the life and manner of the death of a martyr.
6. The branch of ecclesiastical history or hagiography that deals with martyrs.
The state, honor, or claim of being someone who has suffered and died for his or her religious beliefs.
A shrine (or shrines) or a church that has been erected in honor of those who have died for their religious beliefs.
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