mortify

[ mawr-tuh-fahy ]
/ ˈmɔr təˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object), mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing.

to humiliate or shame, as by injury to one's pride or self-respect.
to subjugate (the body, passions, etc.) by abstinence, ascetic discipline, or self-inflicted suffering.
Pathology. to affect with gangrene or necrosis.

verb (used without object), mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing.

to practice mortification or disciplinary austerities.
Pathology. to undergo mortification; become gangrened or necrosed.

Origin of mortify

1350–1400; Middle English mortifien < Middle French mortifier < Late Latin mortificāre “to put to death,” equivalent to Latin morti- (stem of mors) “death” + -ficāre -fy

synonym study for mortify

1. See ashamed.

OTHER WORDS FROM mortify

Example sentences from the Web for mortify

British Dictionary definitions for mortify

mortify
/ (ˈmɔːtɪˌfaɪ) /

verb -fies, -fying or -fied

(tr) to humiliate or cause to feel shame
(tr) Christianity to subdue and bring under control by self-denial, disciplinary exercises, etc
(intr) to undergo tissue death or become gangrenous

Derived forms of mortify

mortifier, noun mortifying, adjective mortifyingly, adverb

Word Origin for mortify

C14: via Old French from Church Latin mortificāre to put to death, from Latin mors death + facere to do

Medical definitions for mortify

mortify
[ môrtə-fī′ ]

v.

To undergo mortification; to become gangrenous or to necrotize.