self-mortification
[self-mawr-tuh-fi-key-shuh n]
- the inflicting of pain or privation on oneself: He was certain that self-mortification was the only road to salvation.
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Origin of self-mortification
First recorded in 1815–25
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for self-mortification
Historical Examples of self-mortification
I do not bid you do aught of this for self-mortification's sake, but that you may derive some after-blessing from it.
HellenicaXenophon
Prayer and self-mortification were the pleasures of his youth.
Dreamers of the GhettoI. Zangwill
In company with other monks, Siddhattha sought for a while enlightenment by self-mortification.
The BuddhaPaul Carus
It exhibited little of the appearance of a life of penance and self-mortification.
Mexico and its ReligionRobert A. Wilson
And he led him to turn for comfort, not to penance and self-mortification, but to his own Word.
The Spanish BrothersDeborah Alcock