2. To practice penance from religious motives; to deaden
desires by religious discipline.
This makes him . . . give alms of all that he hath,
watch, fast, and mortify. --Law.
3. To be subdued; to decay, as appetites, desires, etc.
2. To destroy the active powers or essential qualities of; to
change by chemical action. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
Quicksilver is mortified with turpentine. --Bacon.
He mortified pearls in vinegar. --Hakewill.
3. To deaden by religious or other discipline, as the carnal
affections, bodily appetites, or worldly desires; to bring
into subjection; to abase; to humble.
With fasting mortified, worn out with tears.
--Harte.
Mortify thy learned lust. --Prior.
Mortify, rherefore, your members which are upon the
earth. --Col. iii. 5.
4. To affect with vexation, chagrin, or humiliation; to
humble; to depress.
The news of the fatal battle of Worcester, which
exceedingly mortified our expectations. --Evelyn.
How often is the ambitious man mortified with the
very praises he receives, if they do not rise so
high as he thinks they ought! --Addison.