definitions

crucify

[ kroo-suh-fahy ]
/ ˈkru səˌfaɪ /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR crucify ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), cru·ci·fied, cru·ci·fy·ing.

to put to death by nailing or binding the hands and feet to a cross.
to treat with gross injustice; persecute; torment; torture.
to subdue (passion, sin, etc.).

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RELATED WORDS

torment, torture, hang, excruciate, harrow, kill, persecute, martyr, rack, martyrize, bedevil, smite, afflict, ill-treat, agonize, bother, ridicule, try, lampoon, pan

Nearby words

cruciferous, crucifix, crucifixion, crucifixion thorn, cruciform, crucify, crucis, cruciverbalist, cruck, crud, cruddy

Origin of crucify

Middle English crucifien < Anglo-French, Old French crucifier < Latin crucifīgere, equivalent to Latin cruci- (stem of crux) cross + fīgere to fix, bind fast

Related forms

cru·ci·fi·er, nounun·cru·ci·fied, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for crucify

crucify

/ (ˈkruːsɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

to put to death by crucifixion
slang to defeat, ridicule, etc, totallythe critics crucified his performance
to treat very cruelly; torment
to subdue (passion, lust, etc); mortify

Derived Forms

crucifier, noun

Word Origin for crucify

C13: from Old French crucifier, from Late Latin crucifīgere to crucify, to fasten to a cross, from Latin crux cross + fīgere to fasten
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012