martyr

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈmɑrtɚ/ UK /ˈmɑːtə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

Freq #10189

Meanings

1

verb
kill as a martyr

Saint Sebastian was martyred.
2

noun
One who willingly accepts being put to death or willingly accepts challenging and exposing iniquity done to oneself for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after red martyrdom.

The apostle Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
3

noun
One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.

Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it.
4

noun
Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.

You have a great life! Stop trying to play the martyr!

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

martyrize

Opposites

apostate confessor

Word family

Forms martyrs

Derived forms antimartyrcybermartyrhieromartyrmartyrdommartyrermartyressmartyrialmartyrisationmartyrishmartyrismmartyrizatemartyrization

Related forms martyrionmartyriummartyrologemartyrologuemartyrologymartyry

Etymology

From Middle English martir, from Old English martyr, itself a borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin martyr, from Ancient Greek μάρτυρ (mártur), later form of μάρτυς (mártus, “witness”).

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# martyr

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈmɑrtɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmɑːtə(ɹ)/
**Frequency rank:** 10189

## Meanings
1. kill as a martyr
2. One who willingly accepts being put to death or willingly accepts challenging and exposing iniquity done to oneself for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after red martyrdom.
3. One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.
4. Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.

## Examples
- Saint Sebastian was martyred.
- The apostle Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
- Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it.
- You have a great life! Stop trying to play the martyr!

## Synonyms
- martyrize

## Antonyms
- apostate
- confessor

## Derived Forms
- antimartyr
- cybermartyr
- hieromartyr
- martyrdom
- martyrer
- martyress
- martyrial
- martyrisation
- martyrish
- martyrism
- martyrizate
- martyrization

## Related Forms
- martyrion
- martyrium
- martyrologe
- martyrologue
- martyrology
- martyry

## Etymology
From Middle English martir, from Old English martyr, itself a borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin martyr, from Ancient Greek μάρτυρ (mártur), later form of μάρτυς (mártus, “witness”).

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

markdown