n. [ AS., from L. martyr, Gr. ma`rtyr, ma`rtys, prop., a witness; cf. Skr. sm&rsdot_; to remember, E. memory. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell,
Thou fall'st a blessed martyr ! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To persecute; to torment; to torture. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart
Thou martyrest with sorrow and with smart. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Racked with sciatics, martyred with the stone. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Martyr + -dom. ] 1. The condition of a martyr; the death of a martyr; the suffering of death on account of adherence to the Christian faith, or to any cause. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

I came from martyrdom unto this peace. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Affliction; torment; torture. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Act of martyrizing, or state of being martyrized; torture. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. F. martyriser, LL. martyrizare. ] To make a martyr of. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of a martyr. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. martyrologium: cf. F. martyrologe. ] A martyrology. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to martyrology or martyrs; registering, or registered in, a catalogue of martyrs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. martyrologiste. ] A writer of martyrology; an historian of martyrs. T. Warton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. -gies [ Martyr + -logy. ] A history or account of martyrs; a register of martyrs. Bp. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]