[mar.tyr] n [ME, fr. OE, fr. LL, fr. Gk martyr-, martys, lit., witness] (bef. 12c) 1: a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce a religion
2: a person who sacrifices something of great value and esp. life itself for the sake of principle
3: victim; esp: a great or constant sufferer "a ~ to asthma all his life --A. J. Cronin" -- mar.tyr.i.za.tion n -- mar.tyr.ize vt
[2]martyr vt (bef. 12c) 1: to put to death for adhering to a belief, faith, or profession
2: to inflict agonizing pain on: torture