Martyr word meaning and 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] make into a martyr
[verb] kill as a martyr; "Saint Sebastian was martyred"

\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.

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