Etymology
From Middle English martir, from Old English martyr, itself a borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin martyr, from Ancient Greek μάρτυρ or mártur, later form of μάρτυς or mártus (witness).
Noun
martyr (plural martyrs)
- One who willingly accepts being put to death for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after martyrdom.
- Saint Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
- One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.
- One who suffers greatly and/or constantly, even involuntarily.
- Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it.
Derived terms
- martyrdom
- martyress
- martyrial
- martyrize
- martyrizer
- martyrless
- martyrly
- martyrolatry
- martyrship
Related terms
- martyrdom
- martyrion
- martyrium
- martyrologue
- martyrology
- martyry
Verb
martyr (third-person singular simple present martyrs, present participle martyring, simple past and past participle martyred)
- To make someone into a martyr by putting them to death for adhering to, or acting in accordance with, some belief, especially religious; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
- To persecute.
- Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction.
- To torment; to torture.
Derived terms
- martyrer
Credits
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