mortify
mortify
Definition
mor·tify (môrt′ə fī′)
transitive verb -·fied′, -·fy′·ing
- 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
- to cause to feel shame, humiliation, chagrin, etc.; injure the pride or self-respect of
- Now Rare to cause (body tissue) to decay or become gangrenous
- 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
- to practice mortification (sense )
- Now Rare to decay or become gangrenous
mor′·ti·fi′er noun
mortify
Synonyms
mortify
Usage Examples
Object
- flesh: At 15s 6d for the former, and 25s the latter, it is not the world's cheapest way of mortifying the flesh.
- sin: We cannot mortify sin till we be in Christ; he is our sanctification.
- experience: Coming third in local government results is a mortifying experience for the governing party.
- pride: But this was enough to wear off the shyness on her side, and any symptoms of mortified pride and vanity on his.
- lust: But are there not many here who never knew what it was to mortify one lust for Christ?
- thing: Anyway, the publication of this list does reveal some rather mortifying things about me.
Infinitive complement
- discover: He began his speech by admitting he was mortified to discover they would not be singing Forty Years On!
- learn: We were mortified to learn that the local school children went to the top regularly as an outing.
- find: He was quite mortified to find that it was his own son.
- see: I was mortified to see that, from almost every window along my train, a hooligan was proudly dousing the platform with urine.
- hear: I was mortified to hear my letter's hectoring presumption read back to me.
- admit: But I'm mortified to admit that Gary Glitter came into my head instead!
Modifying Another Word
- dreadfully: I'm dreadfully mortified that these things auction seller have happened to annoy auction seller you.
- absolutely: I hope whoever was the guilty party feels absolutely mortified.
- therefore: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, " etc. ( Col. iii.
- so: I was so mortified that I had to thank God he was blind.
- not: Thus: 1. If sin be discovered, but not mortified; if there be no endeavor to get it removed.
- totally: I've never been defeated before and am totally mortified.
Preposition: that
- thing: I'm dreadfully mortified that these things have happened to annoy you.
mortify Quotes
There still remains, to mortifya wit, The many-headed monster of the pit.
Browse dictionary entries near mortify
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- mortgagee
- mortgaged
- Mortgage REIT
- mortgage insurance
- mortgage broker
- mortgage bond
- Mortimer
- mortise
- mortmain
- Morton
- mortuary
- morula
- mos
- mosaic
- mosaic gold
- mosaic image
