mortify

mor·ti·fy

verb \ˈmȯr-tə-ˌfī\

mor·ti·fiedmor·ti·fy·ing

Definition of MORTIFY

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to destroy the strength, vitality, or functioning of

2

: to subdue or deaden (as the body or bodily appetites) especially by abstinence or self-inflicted pain or discomfort

3

: to subject to severe and vexing embarrassment : shame

intransitive verb

1

: to practice mortification

2

: to become necrotic or gangrenous

Examples of MORTIFY

1. It mortified me to have to admit that I'd never actually read the book.
2. <was mortified by her children's atrocious manners>

Origin of MORTIFY

Middle English mortifien, from Anglo-French mortifier, from Late Latin mortificare, from Latin mort-, mors

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to MORTIFY

Synonyms

abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, faze, fluster, embarrass, nonplus, rattle

Related Words

agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, put off, put out, unhinge, unsettle, upset; debase, degrade, demean, humble, humiliate, queer, shame

Near Antonyms

calm, comfort, console, relieve, soothe; buoy, cheer, embolden, encourage, hearten; assure, reassure

Rhymes with MORTIFY

abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify

mor·ti·fy

intransitive verb \ˈmȯrt-ə-ˌfī\   (Medical Dictionary)

mor·ti·fiedmor·ti·fy·ing

Medical Definition of MORTIFY

: to become necrotic or gangrenous