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mortify definition

mor·tify (môrtə fī′)

transitive verb mortified -·fied′, mortifying -·fy′·ing

  1. to punish (one's body) or control (one's physical desires and passions) by self-denial, fasting, etc., as a means of religious or ascetic discipline
  2. to cause to feel shame, humiliation, chagrin, etc.; injure the pride or self-respect of
  3. Now Rare to cause (body tissue) to decay or become gangrenous
  4. to destroy the vitality or vigor of

Etymology: ME mortifien < OFr mortifier < LL(Ec) mortificare, to kill, destroy < L mors, death (see mortal) + facere, to make, do

intransitive verb

  1. to practice mortification (sense )
  2. Now Rare to decay or become gangrenous

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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