crucify

(kro̵̅o̅sə fī′)

transitive verb crucified, crucifying

  1. to put to death by nailing or binding to a cross and leaving to die of exposure
  2. to mortify (the flesh) as by asceticism
  3. to be very cruel to; torment

Origin: ME crucifien < OFr crucifier < VL *crucificare < LL(Ec) crucifigere < L crux, cross + figere: see fix

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See crucify in American Heritage Dictionary 4

cru·ci·fy

transitive verb crucified cru·ci·fied, crucifying cru·ci·fy·ing, cru·ci·fies
  1. To put (a person) to death by nailing or binding to a cross.
  2. To mortify or subdue (the flesh).
  3. To treat cruelly; torment: crucified the awkward child with teasing.
  4. To criticize harshly; pillory: The media crucified the politician for breaking a campaign pledge.

Origin: Middle English crucifien, from Old French crucifier, alteration of Latin crucifīgere : crux, cruc-, cross + fīgere, to attach; see dhīgw- in Indo-European roots.

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