martyr

English

/ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/, /ˈmɑːtə(ɹ)/, /ˈmɑɹ.tɚ/

noun
Definitions
  • One who willingly accepts being put to death for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after martyrdom.
  • (by extension) One who sacrifices his or her life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.
  • with a prepositional phrase of cause One who suffers greatly and/or constantly, even involuntarily.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English martir inherited from Old English martyr (martyr) derived from Latin martyr derived from Ancient Greek μάρτυρ.

Origin

Ancient Greek

μάρτυρ

Gloss

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