martyrdom
/ˈmɑː(ɹ).tə(ɹ).dəm/ noun
Forms martyrdoms
- noun The condition of a martyr; the death or suffering of a martyr; the death or suffering on account of adherence to the Christian faith, or to any cause.
- noun Extreme suffering, affliction; torment; torture, especially without reason.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English martyrdome, martirdom, marterdom, from Old English martyrdōm (“martyrdom”), corresponding to martyr + -dom. Cognate with German Märtyrertum (“martyrdom”), Danish martyrdom (“martyrdom”), Swedish martyrdom (“martyrdom”), Norwegian martyrdom (“martyrdom”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The condition of a martyr; the death of a martyr; the suffering of death on account of adherence to the Christian faith, or to any cause. Bacon.
- noun Affliction; torment; torture. Chaucer.
Etymology [Martyr + -dom.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “martyrdom”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details