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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Martyr

Mär'tyr, n.

noun

(mär'tur), n. [A-S. martyr, Lat. martyr, Gr. μάρτυρ, a witness who testifies with his blood, from μάρτυς, a witness; Fr., Pr., & Pg. martyr, Sp. martir, It. martire.]

Sense 1. One who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the gospel; as, Stephen was the first Christian martyr.

To be a martyr, signifies only to witness the truth of Christ. South.

Sense 2. 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.

Then if thou fail'st, O Cromwell, Thou fail'st a blessed martyr. Shak.

Mär'tyr, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. MARTYRED; p. pr. & vb. n. MARTYRING.]

  1. To put to death for adhering to what one believes to be the truth; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.
  2. To murder; to destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
  3. To persecute as a martyr; to torment; to torture.

The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart Thou martyrest with sorrow and with smart. Spenser.