Martyred
martyr (?), n. (AS., from L.martyr, Gr. martyr, martys, prop., a
witness; cf. Skr. smr 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 fallst, O Cromwell,
Thou fallst a blessed martyr ! Shak.
martyr (?), v. t. (imp. p. pr. 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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