Martyr
['mɑːtə] or ['mɑrtɚ]
Definition
(noun.) one who suffers for the sake of principle.
(noun.) one who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty for refusing to renounce their religion.
(verb.) torture and torment like a martyr.
(verb.) kill as a martyr; 'Saint Sebastian was martyred'.
Checker: Witt--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) 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.
(n.) 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.
(v. t.) To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp. Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
(v. t.) To persecute; to torment; to torture.
Typist: Wilhelmina
Definition
n. one who by his death bears witness to the truth: one who suffers for his belief: one who suffers greatly from any cause.—v.t. to put to death for one's belief.—n. Mar′tyrdom state of being a martyr: the sufferings or death of a martyr: torment generally.—v.t. Mar′tyrise (Browning) to offer as a sacrifice: to cause to suffer martyrdom.—adj. Martyrolog′ical.—ns. Martyrol′ogist; Martyrol′ogy a history of martyrs: a discourse on martyrdom.
Editor: Wilma
Unserious Contents or Definition
To dream of martyrs, denotes that false friends, domestic unhappiness and losses in affairs which concern you most. To dream that you are a martyr, signifies the separation from friends, and enemies will slander you.
Inputed by Lennon
Unserious Contents or Definition
n. One who moves along the line of least reluctance to a desired death.
Typist: Miguel
Examples
- Sir Morbury Dedlock, says Mrs. Rouncewell, was, I have no occasion to say, on the side of the blessed martyr. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- By the scallop-shell of Compostella, I will make a martyr of him, if he loiters here to hatch treason among my domestics! Walter Scott. Ivanhoe.
- He would abandon a hero's or a martyr's end gladly. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- To whom could the poor little martyr tell these daily struggles and tortures? William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Old Sedley forgot these charges as he was making up his last account, and did justice to the gentle and uncomplaining little martyr. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- It's perfectly maddening to think of those lovely limes, sighed Amy, with the air of a martyr. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- We have seen pictures of martyrs enough, and saints enough, to regenerate the world. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- A matinee for the little folks is promised for this afternoon, on which occasion several martyrs will be eaten by the tigers. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- All who know us are aware that although we are at times justly severe upon tigers and martyrs, we never intentionally offend gladiators. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- But Howe’s life was a fight, and his triumph that of one of the great martyrs of invention. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- Here and there, on the fronts of roadside inns, we found huge, coarse frescoes of suffering martyrs like those in the shrines. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- Fourth--Some twelve or fifteen canonized Popes and martyrs. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- He was martyred, I think. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- She found it in this very spot, close to where the martyred Roman soldier stood. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- He would abandon a hero's or a martyr's end gladly. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
Edited by Debra