vt to persecute; to torment; to torture.
2. martyr ·vt to put to death for adhering to some belief, ·esp. christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
3. martyr ·noun hence, one who sacrifices his life, his station, or what is of great value to him, for the sake of principle, or to sustain a cause.
4. martyr ·noun one who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the gospel; one who is put to death for his religion; as, stephen was the first christian martyr.