Lexic.us

Definition of Mortify

1. Verb. Practice self-denial of one's body and appetites.

2. Verb. Hold within limits and control. "Mortify the flesh"

3. Verb. Cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of. "The performance is likely to mortify Sue"; "He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss"

4. Verb. Undergo necrosis. "The tissue around the wound necrosed"

Definition of Mortify

1. v. t. To destroy the organic texture and vital functions of; to produce gangrene in.

2. v. i. To lose vitality and organic structure, as flesh of a living body; to gangrene.

Definition of Mortify

1. Verb. (obsolete transitive) To kill. (defdate 14th-17th c.) ¹

2. Verb. (obsolete) To reduce the potency of; to nullify; to deaden, neutralize. (defdate 14th-18th c.) ¹

3. Verb. (obsolete transitive) To kill off (living tissue etc.); to make necrotic. (defdate 15th-18th c.) ¹

4. Verb. To discipline (one's body, appetites etc.) by suppressing desires; to practise abstinence on. (defdate from 15th c.) ¹

5. Verb. (usually used passively) To embarrass, to humiliate. (defdate from 17th c.) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Mortify

1. to humiliate [v -FIED, -FYING, -FIES] - See also: humiliate

Medical Definition of Mortify

1. 1. To destroy the organic texture and vital functions of; to produce gangrene in. 2. To destroy the active powers or essential qualities of; to change by chemical action. "Quicksilver is mortified with turpentine." (Bacon) "He mortified pearls in vinegar." (Hakewill) 3. To deaden by religious or other discipline, as the carnal affections, bodily appetites, or worldly desires; to bring into subjection; to abase; to humble. "With fasting mortified, worn out with tears." (Harte) "Mortify thy learned lust." (Prior) "Mortify, rherefore, your members which are upon the earth." (Col. Iii. 5) 4. To affect with vexation, chagrin, or humiliation; to humble; to depress. "The news of the fatal battle of Worcester, which exceedingly mortified our expectations." (Evelyn) "How often is the ambitious man mortified with the very praises he receives, if they do not rise so high as he thinks they ought!" (Addison) Origin: OE. Mortifien, F. Mortifier, fr. L. Mortificare; L. Mors, mortis, death + -ficare (in comp) to make. See Mortal, and -fy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Mortify

morticer morticers mortices mortician morticians morticing mortiferous mortific mortification mortifications

mortified mortifiedness mortifier mortifiers mortifies mortify (current term) mortifying mortifyingly mortis mortise

mortise-and-tenon joint mortise-and-tenon joints mortise joint mortised mortiser mortisers mortises mortising mortling mortlings

Literary usage of Mortify

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Dictionary of the English Language: In which the Words are Deduced from ...by Samuel Johnson by Samuel Johnson (1805)
"Fasting serves to mortify the^wi, and subdue Name not religion ; for thou lov'st the Jl«i. .... mortify ..."

2. Junius by Junius (1796)
"... one thousand pounds upon the Irish establishment for thirty years, he must be supported in the demand by the public, because it would mortify the king! ..."

3. The Works of John Owen by John Owen (1826)
"What it it to mortify any sin, negatively considered. Not the i^ter destruction of it in this life. Not the dissimulation of it* Not the improvement of any ..."

4. Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions by Robert South (1823)
"Surely there is no love to God less than that which will induce a man to lay down his life for God, that can enforce him to mortify a corruption for him; ..."

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