I. ˈmär-tər noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek martyr-, martys witness
Date: before 12th century
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 especially life itself for the sake of principle
3. : victim ; especially : a great or constant sufferer
a martyr to asthma all his life — A. J. Cronin
• mar·tyr·i·za·tion ˌmär-tə-rə-ˈzā-shən noun
• mar·tyr·ize ˈmär-tə-ˌrīz transitive verb
II. transitive verb
Date: before 12th century
1. : to put to death for adhering to a belief, faith, or profession
2. : to inflict agonizing pain on : torture