First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
mortify
verb mor·ti·fy \ˈmȯr-tə-ˌfī\
: to cause (someone) to feel very embarrassed and foolish
mor·ti·fiedmor·ti·fy·ing
Full 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
See mortify defined for English-language learners
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Origin of MORTIFY
Middle English mortifien, from Anglo-French mortifier, from Late Latin mortificare, from Latin mort-, mors
Related to MORTIFY
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
MORTIFY Defined for Kids
mortify
verb mor·ti·fy \ˈmȯr-tə-ˌfī\
mor·ti·fiedmor·ti·fy·ing
Definition of MORTIFY for Kids
: to embarrass greatly <I ought to have read more, for I find I don't know anything, and it mortifies me. — Louisa May Alcott, Little Women>
Medical Dictionary
mortify
intransitive verb mor·ti·fy \ˈmȯrt-ə-ˌfī\
mor·ti·fiedmor·ti·fy·ing
Medical Definition of MORTIFY
: to become necrotic or gangrenous
Learn More About MORTIFY
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