crucify

[ kroo-suh-fahy ]
/ ˈkru səˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object), cru·ci·fied, cru·ci·fy·ing.

to put to death by nailing or binding the hands and feet to a cross.
to treat with gross injustice; persecute; torment; torture.
to subdue (passion, sin, etc.).

Origin of crucify

Middle English crucifien < Anglo-French, Old French crucifier < Latin crucifīgere, equivalent to Latin cruci- (stem of crux) cross + fīgere to fix, bind fast

OTHER WORDS FROM crucify

cru·ci·fi·er, noun un·cru·ci·fied, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for crucify

crucify
/ (ˈkruːsɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)

to put to death by crucifixion
slang to defeat, ridicule, etc, totally the critics crucified his performance
to treat very cruelly; torment
to subdue (passion, lust, etc); mortify

Derived forms of crucify

crucifier, noun

Word Origin for crucify

C13: from Old French crucifier, from Late Latin crucifīgere to crucify, to fasten to a cross, from Latin crux cross + fīgere to fasten