Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Martyr"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Martyr
one who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the
cause of Christ (Acts 22:20; Rev. 2:13; 17:6). In this sense
Stephen was the first martyr. The Greek word so rendered in all
other cases is translated "witness." (1.) In a court of justice
(Matt. 18:16; 26:65; Acts 6:13; 7:58; Heb. 10:28; 1 Tim. 5:19).
(2.) As of one bearing testimony to the truth of what he has
seen or known (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8, 22; Rom. 1:9; 1 Thess. 2:5,
10; 1 John 1:2).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Martyr \Mar"tyr\, n. [AS., from L. martyr, Gr. ma`rtyr, ma`rtys,
prop., a witness; cf. Skr. sm[.r] to remember, E. memory.]
1. One who, by his death, bears witness to the truth of the
gospel; one who is put to death for his religion; as,
Stephen was the first Christian martyr. --Chaucer.
To be a martyr, signifies only to witness the truth
of Christ; but the witnessing of the truth was then
so generally attended with persecution, that
martyrdom now signifies not only to witness, but to
witness by death --South.
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 fall'st, O Cromwell, Thou fall'st a
blessed martyr ! --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Martyr \Mar"tyr\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Martyred}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Martyring}.]
1. To put to death for adhering to some belief, esp.
Christianity; to sacrifice on account of faith or
profession. --Bp. Pearson.
2. To persecute; to torment; to torture. --Chaucer.
The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart Thou martyrest
with sorrow and with smart. --Spenser.
Racked with sciatics, martyred with the stone.
--Pope.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
martyr
n 1: one who suffers for the sake of principle [syn: {sufferer}]
2: one who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty for
refusing to renounce their religion
v 1: kill as a martyr; "Saint Sebastian was martyred"
2: make into a martyr [syn: {martyrize}]
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