mortify
[ mawr-tuh-fahy ]
/ ˈmɔr təˌfaɪ /
verb (used with object), mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing.
to humiliate or shame, as by injury to one's pride or self-respect.
to subjugate (the body, passions, etc.) by abstinence, ascetic discipline, or self-inflicted suffering.
Pathology. to affect with gangrene or necrosis.
verb (used without object), mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing.
to practice mortification or disciplinary austerities.
Pathology. to undergo mortification; become gangrened or necrosed.
QUIZZES
Discover The Influence Of Portuguese On English Via This Quiz!
We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following bird names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Words nearby mortify
mortgagor, mortice, mortician, mortiferous, mortification, mortify, mortimer, mortise, mortise block, mortise chisel, mortise joint
Origin of mortify
1350–1400; Middle English mortifien < Middle French mortifier < Late Latin mortificāre “to put to death,” equivalent to Latin morti- (stem of mors) “death” + -ficāre -fy
OTHER WORDS FROM mortify
synonym study for mortify
1. See ashamed.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for mortify
British Dictionary definitions for mortify
mortify
/ (ˈmɔːtɪˌfaɪ) /
verb -fies, -fying or -fied
(tr) to humiliate or cause to feel shame
(tr) Christianity to subdue and bring under control by self-denial, disciplinary exercises, etc
(intr) to undergo tissue death or become gangrenous
Derived forms of mortify
mortifier, nounmortifying, adjectivemortifyingly, adverbWord Origin for mortify
C14: via Old French from Church Latin mortificāre to put to death, from Latin mors death + facere to do
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for mortify
mortify
[ môr′tə-fī′ ]
v.
To undergo mortification; to become gangrenous or to necrotize.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.