Mar"tyr (?), n. [AS., from L. martyr, Gr. ma`rtyr, ma`rtys, prop., a witness; cf. Skr. sm&rsdot; to remember, E. memory.]
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.
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.
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.
Then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell,
Thou fall'st a blessed martyr !
Shak.
© Webster 1913.
Mar"tyr (?), 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.
2.
To persecute; to torment; to torture.
Chaucer.
The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart
Thou martyrest with sorrow and with smart.
Spenser.
Racked with sciatics, martyred with the stone.
Pope.
© Webster 1913.