cru ‧ ci ‧ fy /ˈkruːsəfaɪ, ˈkruːsɪfaɪ/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle crucified , present participle crucifying , third person singular crucifies ) [transitive]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: crucifier , from Late Latin crucifigere , from Latin crux ( ⇨ ↑ cross 2 ) + figere 'to fasten' ]
1 . to kill someone by fastening them to a cross
2 . to criticize someone severely and cruelly for something they have done, especially in public