Mortify: meaning, definitions and examples
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mortify
[ ˈmɔːr.tɪ.faɪ ]
emotional pain
To mortify someone means to cause them to feel very embarrassed or ashamed. This can happen in situations where a person feels humiliated or exposed in front of others.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She was mortified when she tripped in front of her classmates.
- His harsh criticism mortified her right before the presentation.
- He felt mortified to be rejected in front of everyone.
self-discipline
Mortify can also mean to subdue or restrain one's bodily passions or desires, often used in a religious or ascetic context. This use implies a level of self-denial and control over one's impulses.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The monk sought to mortify his flesh through fasting.
- She practiced meditation to mortify her overwhelming desires.
- He believes in mortifying his cravings to maintain discipline.
Translations
Translations of the word "mortify" in other languages:
🇵🇹 mortificar
- humilhar
- constranger
🇮🇳 शर्मिंदा करना
- अपमानित करना
- ग्रसित करना
🇩🇪 erniedrigen
- demütigen
- töten
🇮🇩 mematikan
- mempermalukan
- menghina
🇺🇦 пригнічувати
- соромити
- вбивати
🇵🇱 mortyfikować
- upokarzać
- zabić
🇯🇵 屈辱を与える
- 恥をかかせる
- 死ぬ
🇫🇷 mortifier
- humilier
- tuer
🇪🇸 mortificar
- humillar
- matar
🇹🇷 rezil etmek
- aşağılamak
- öldürmek
🇰🇷 굴욕감을 주다
- 수치스럽게 하다
- 죽이다
🇸🇦 يُهين
- يُحرج
- يقتل
🇨🇿 ponižovat
- urážet
- zabít
🇸🇰 ponižovať
- urážať
- zabiť
🇨🇳 羞辱
- 使...感到羞愧
- 杀死
🇸🇮 ponižati
- osramotiti
- ubiti
🇮🇸 niða
- skammast sín
- drepa
🇰🇿 масқаралау
- қорлау
- өлтіру
🇬🇪 დაწყვეტა
- 羞辱
- მოკვლა
🇦🇿 aşağılamak
- rüsvay etmək
- öldürmək
🇲🇽 mortificar
- humillar
- matar
Word origin
The verb 'mortify' originates from the late Middle English term 'mortifien', which comes from the Latin 'mortificare', meaning 'to put to death' or 'to deaden'. The Latin roots 'mortis' meaning 'death' and 'facere' meaning 'to make' combine to emphasize both the physical and emotional aspects of the word. In earlier usages, 'mortify' primarily referred to physical death or the act of dying, but as language evolved, it began to encompass the idea of dying to one's desires or passions, leading to the contemporary uses focused on embarrassment and self-restraint. This shift reflects the broader philosophical concepts of self-denial prominent in various religious traditions, where mortification becomes a means of personal growth and spiritual development.
Word Frequency Rank
This word's position of #30,519 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.
- ...
- 30516 betokened
- 30517 corny
- 30518 terrorize
- 30519 mortify
- 30520 kitchenette
- 30521 frisk
- 30522 fraternally
- ...