— martyrish , adj. — martyrly , adv. , adj.
/mahr"teuhr/ , n.
1. a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion.
2. a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause: a martyr to the cause of social justice.
3. a person who undergoes severe or constant suffering: a martyr to severe headaches.
4. a person who seeks sympathy or attention by feigning or exaggerating pain, deprivation, etc.
v.t.
5. to make a martyr of, esp. by putting to death.
6. to torment or torture.
[ bef. 900; (n.) ME marter, OE martyr mártyr, var. of Gk mártys, mártyros witness; (v.) ME martiren, OE martyrian, deriv. of n. ]