MORTIFY

verb (-fied; -fying) Etymology: Middle English mortifien, from Anglo-French mortifier, from Late Latin mortificare, from Latin mort-, mors Date: 14th century transitive verb to destroy the strength, vitality, or functioning of, to subdue or deaden (as the body or bodily appetites) especially by abstinence or self-inflicted pain or discomfort, to subject to severe and vexing embarrassment ; shame , intransitive verb to practice mortification, to become necrotic or gangrenous