'Martyr' definitions:
Definition of 'martyr'
(from WordNet)
Definition of 'Martyr'
From: GCIDE
- Martyr \Mar"tyr\, n. [AS., from L. martyr, Gr. ma`rtyr, ma`rtys, prop., a witness; cf. Skr. sm[.r] to remember, E. memory.] [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]
- Then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell, Thou fall'st a blessed martyr ! --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Martyr'
From: GCIDE
- Martyr \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. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To persecute; to torment; to torture. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
- The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart Thou martyrest with sorrow and with smart. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- Racked with sciatics, martyred with the stone. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'martyr'
From: Easton
- Martyr one who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the cause of Christ (Acts 22:20; Rev. 2:13; 17:6). In this sense Stephen was the first martyr. The Greek word so rendered in all other cases is translated "witness."
- In a court of justice (Matt. 18:16; 26:65; Acts 6:13; 7:58; Heb. 10:28; 1 Tim. 5:19).
- As of one bearing testimony to the truth of what he has seen or known (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8, 22; Rom. 1:9; 1 Thess. 2:5, 10; 1 John 1:2).
Synonyms of 'martyr'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- afflict,
- agonize,
- ail,
- angel,
- angel of light,
- angel of love,
- annihilate,
- archangel,
- beatified soul,
- bereave of life,
- bite,
- bloody,
- burn,
- canonized mortal,
- carry away,
- carry off,
- celestial,
- chafe,
- cherub,
- cherubim,
- chloroform,
- claw,
- convulse,
- crucify,
- cut,
- cut down,
- cut off,
- deprive of life,
- destroy,
- dispatch,
- dispose of,
- distress,
- do away with,
- do for,
- do to death,
- end,
- excruciate,
- execute,
- exterminate,
- fester,
- finish,
- finish off,
- fret,
- gall,
- give pain,
- gnaw,
- grate,
- grind,
- gripe,
- harrow,
- heavenly being,
- hurt,
- immolate,
- impale,
- inflame,
- inflict pain,
- irritate,
- kill,
- kill by inches,
- lacerate,
- lancinate,
- launch into eternity,
- liquidate,
- lynch,
- macerate,
- make away with,
- martyrize,
- messenger of God,
- nip,
- object of compassion,
- pain,
- patron saint,
- pierce,
- pinch,
- poison,
- poor devil,
- prey,
- prick,
- principality,
- prolong the agony,
- punish,
- purge,
- put away,
- put down,
- put to death,
- put to sleep,
- put to torture,
- rack,
- rankle,
- rasp,
- recording angel,
- remove from life,
- rip,
- rub,
- sacrifice,
- saint,
- savage,
- saved soul,
- scarify,
- seraph,
- seraphim,
- slay,
- soul in glory,
- stab,
- starve,
- sting,
- sufferer,
- take life,
- take off,
- torment,
- torture,
- try,
- tweak,
- twist,
- victim,
- wound,
- wretch,
- wring