D defs.my
Menu ☰
Entry 4 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Martyr

/mär'-tẽr/ · Mar·tyr · IPA /ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/
01 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 Christ…
  1. 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.
    “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. 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.
02 v. t. To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp. Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
imp. & p. p. Martyred; p. pr. & vb. n. Martyring
  1. 1.
    To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp. Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
  2. 2.
    To persecute; to torment; to torture.
    “The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart Thou martyrest with sorrow and with smart.” — Spenser.
    “Racked with sciatics, martyred with the stone.” — Pope.